Evening star., 1940-08-16
German Air Raids
May Take Place Of
Actual Invasion
Lund Attack Would Be
Unnecessary if Planes
.InfIiet Enough Domoee
BY DEVON FRANCIS,
Associated Press Aviation Editor.

hSSoCidtcu ASoS "fAobaSh GdASois
A new and awesome possibility
that Germany, after all, may not at
tempt an actual invasion of the
British Isles, but will try to bring
the British to their knees by air at
tacks alone-today grew out of the
furious Nazi air assaults.
Gen. Douhet, an Italian expert on
air warfare, from whose ideas the
Germans have borrowed literally in
constructing their war machine, ad-
vocated that type of attack as long
ago as 1922.
Attack in the air, defend on
land" was his thesis.
Any attempt to forecast German
strategy is, of course, second-guess-
ing, but if the Germans could in
f1ict enough damage on England by
air no invasion would be necessary.
The primary purpose of warfare is
not to take and hold ground, but
only to destroy an enemy's will to
resist.
World War Cited.
During the war of 1914-18 Ger
many itself scarcely felt the tread of
an enemy soldiers boot. yet the
German will to resist was broken.
A frontal attack on the British
Isles by sea would be extremely
hazardous for Nazi legions unless
British resistance already was ap-
preaching the vanishing point. Hit
Ter still would have to reckon with
the British fleet. and he would run
the risk of a severe reverse.
If, on the other hand, he can dis
sipate the defensive power of the
Royal Air Force by bombing attacks
of ever-increasing intensity, he can
assault the sources of British mill
tary strength - munitions plants.
troop concentration points, lines of
communication and the like-almost
at his leisure.
This relatively new and terrifying
weapon, the swift, heavy bombing
plane, accompanied by swarms of
fighting planes. is no more than an
ultra-modern version of a field ar
tillery gun. In military circles, in
fact, it is known as bombardment
equipment.
Long range bombardment by
plane probably is creating more
havoc and destruction than either
side cares to admit. Moreover, it
interrupts production. vital to the
prosecution of the war. During the
Spanish Civil War lone bombing
plane on several occasions COM
pletely paralyzed activity in Bar
celona.
Dispatches from both London and
Berlin are significant: The German
strategy is to destroy everything
Britain must have to keep on fight
ing-shipping, ports, munitions and
industrial plants and, above all, air.
ports. The Germans specifically re-
ported attacks on the great Vickers
Armstrong armament works, vasri-
Gus ports and shipping conveys.
Forerunner of Greater Attacks.
The attack on Croydon Airdrome
Yesterday. unquestionably was .
,forerunner Of greater attacks On
British landing fields, though dis
persion of British warplanes at
large number of points will make
the Germans job o tough one.---.
1t was surprising that the attack
on Croydon, as well as those on the
Lympne, Hawkinge and Folkstone
Airports, were so long delayed.
Possibly hindering the British air
defense is an inadequate number of
cannon equipped fighting planes.
Enemy fighters can be brought down
with machine gun bullets directed at
the cockpit, but bombers often re-
quire an explosive charge.
A majority of the German planes
lost in action likely are small fight
ing types, regarded by the German
air force as low-ranking officers
are regarded in ground army-as
wholly expendable if the game is
worth the candle.