Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-10-26
British Air Expert
Says Invasion Now
Would Be Suicide
Bombers Must BIost
Way, Courtenoy Tells
Notwithstanding Union

I'll uSPSNN"S SS"
Any attempt by Great Britain to
dispatch an eXpeditionary force
across the English Channel at the
present time would be inviting
suicide" William Courtenay, Brit
ish aviation expert. declared yes
terday in an address before the
English Speaking Union at the
Willard Hotel.
Only after a bomber force OF
tremendous Size has blasted the
way with a barrage similar to that
laid down by field artillery In the
last war can Britain hope for sue
cessful landing of an expeditlonary
army on the other side of the
Channel, he said, adding that this
probably will be impossible before
late next year.
"If We can hold our present
strategic defensive positions in the
West and Middle East throughout
the coming winter and into next
spring" Mr.. Courtenay said that
to me will represent a big victory"
"Strategic Aid" to Russia.
On the development in the United
States and England of masses OF
long range bombers depends the
time when Britain will be able to
take the initiative, he continued;
explaining that British aid to Rus
STA was strategic aid" and not
political help.
eve certainly would lose our
present strategic position if we
compromise our patience and try
something big" he stated. IF we
were to throw an expeditionary
force at Channel ports we would be
opposing immense Notifications
Germany has had months to build
up. When we have bomber force
of sufficient size to blast the way,
then we will move. Any other meth
Cd of attempting an expeditionary
force would be inviting suicide"
In describing the Battle of Britain
last summer, Mr.. Courtenay pointed
out that the British were able 10
receive only II minutes warning Of
a pending air raid due to the near
ness OF Channel points used as
jumping-off places by Nazi airmen.
Even with this disadvantage, he
added, the British were able to gain
control of the air by strategic dis
persal of their fighter planes, super
ior firing power of the ships and
more efficient training of pilots.
Destroyed Planes on Ground.
Mr. Courtenay said the Nazis were
able to overrun European countries
on schedule because they gained air
control by destroying planes of their
foes before the ships could leave the
ground.
when they turned on Britain,
however" he declared, "the Germans
for the first time had to fight for
command of the air, and they re-
ceived a fogging and a thrashing
every time they tried to cross the
Channel
He described IN detail the work
of the little fighter ships, pointing
out that pilots and maintenance
crews lived out IN the open with the
planes, SO they could take off at a
moments notice.
He said that for five minutes Of
every hour during the long siege
the fighter planes had to be warmed
up to enable quick take-offs at any
time. In each of the fighters, he
said, the Nazis were facing eight
machine guns, four in each wing,
capable of firing q total Of $500
bullets per minute.
Germany admitted defeat in that
battle by failing to return this sum-
mer," Mr.. Courtenay said. Instead
the Nazis turned to the east to
move against foe more in their own
class"
U. s. Aircraft Praised.
Were it not for development Of
aircraft, America could very molly
remain in an austere and aloof po-
sition" in relation to the war, Mr..
Courtenay said.
However" he added, you have
pioneered the very types of air
craft which are spelling doom 70
your strategic isolation"
This Nations place In the war
now is to tune up aircraft indus
tries, build new factories and sup
ply more and more big bombers
which will enable the British to
take the initiative, Mr.. Courtenay
declared.
Among those at the speakers
table for the luncheon meeting were
Ralph William Close, Minister Of
the Union of South Africa; Mer-
chant Maloney, Counselor of the
Canadian Legation: Senator Cap
per Of Kansas, Representative By
ron of Maryland and several Of
flcials OF British agencies in WASH
ington. Robert Lincoln OBrien,
vice president of the English Speak
ing Union, presided.
Mr.. OBrien announced that the
organization was moving it's head
quarters from the Greenbrier Build
ing to 1915 Sixteenth street to make
way for expansion of the British
Supply Council.