The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-15

~SSSrS after his thrusts have been r
 The losses in ships and tell us of the business of the
 Four important German war ships, including a battle cruiser and a heavy cruiser among a host of less valuable ships have been sunk. Britain acknowledges the loss of of our destroyers. Germany risked her best war ships against the over- whelming superiority of the Allied fleet. What crucial objective caused Hitler to jeopardize his already weakened navy?
 Germans Hold Key Cities
 All the key cities on the Atlantic coast of Norway, together with the capital, Oslo, on the Shakerrak were seized and are in Germany'S pos session. The British navy attacked vigorously after the occupations, en- tering several of the fjords, and de- stroyed enemy ships, but, being un- accompanied by troops, the old maxim of the futility of Warships at- lacking land forces was again ex- emplified. Despite German warship losses this invasion of Norway is a serious blow to British naval power
 King George VI has assured Nor way of all help which can only mean that an Allied army will soon be landed to aid the hard-pressed Norwegian troops. Will it be of suffi- cient size to defeat the German troops?
 Some persons have asked why the Allies failed to prevent this invasion of Norway. The superiority of the Allied navieS in the North Sea over Germany is more fancied than real. Allied sea strnegth is being ab- sorbed by the imperative demands for warships in the Mediterranean and Near East, guarding world com- merce and protecting large and nu- merous conveys of merchant ships bringing in vital materials. Only what remained from these commit ments are available in the North Sea to stop this Hitler move into Scandinavia. This fact gave Hitler greater assurance of success in his surprise move.
 Hitler Must Have Known
 Hitler must have been aware of what Germany would pay to succeed in this daring venture under the nose of the British fleet and ap- parently he was willing to pay the price. Let us see what he has gained.
 It seems now evident that the AL lied blockade of Germany by sea was more of g. menace than Germany was willing to admit, otherwise Hit Ter would not have risked so cav alierly his already weakened navy to break the strangle-hold of Allied sea power. That is what the in- vasion of Scandinavia is intended to accomplish.
 There are two potent weapons ill Hitler's hands that he will count upon to rescue Germany from her plight-the German army and his superior air force. Air bases ill Nor way, being at a much shorter dis tance from the British Isles, would, if held, permit German fighting planes to accompany its bombers in an attack on England. The finest f Germany's war ships were Sacrt- feed for this objective.
 Sees British Navy Beaten
 Hitler believes that the British navy can be defeated by German air power and is willing to put his theory to a test. It is gamble for high stakes, victory or defeat.
 Are great surface war ships obso- lete? Has air power made the bat tleShip as dead as the dinoSaur? That was the conviction of many in 1917, when the submarine was in the zenith of its destructive prow- ess. But the destroyer and its depth charges disproved that judg- ment. Today the airplane even more seriously threatens the pres tige of the large surface war ships. Hitler throws away his navy before the superior Allied attacks to give his air force better position from which to strike his foe. Hitler is partly right and partly wrong in his theory. Ahplanes can destroy, but cannot protect commerce on the seas. Guns in ships on the seas al- ways will be the most useful weap- ons for the control of the great ocean highways.
 Airplanes can become even more vital as auxiliary weapons for the protection of all types of surface warships from airplane attack. German superiority in air power is making most uncertain the final outcome of the war. A continued weakness of the Allies in air power is giving Hitler renewed hope of ul- innate victory His invasion of Den- mark and Norway was to obtain greater advantage for his air power.
 The invasion of Holland and Belgium would give him still greater advantage. Smashing the Maginot line and the defeat of the Allied