Evening star., 1942-08-22
Dieppe Raid Shows
Need Of Air Power
To Open New Front
Adequate Transport
And Surprise Also
Declared Essential
BY THOMAS r. HAWKINS.

by JHOMAS f. HAWKINS,
Associated Press War CorN spondent
BERN, Switzerland, Aug, 22.-The
Allied landing raid at Dieppe dem
onstrated. according to the opinion
expressed by foreign military experts
here, that a second front can be
opened in France-granted sufficient
superiority Of land-based planes. ad-
equate transport and the proper
element of surprise.
Published neutral descriptions of
the recently completed Channel for
ttlcatlons indicate. furthermore.
that a full-scale invasion effort
would cost heavily, but that the
Allies would have a chance of ad-
vancing to the Meuse and Rhine if
they outWeighed the Germans in
men and material
Neutral observers raised the uueS-
ton whether, in view of the costly
air battles over Dieppe Wednesday,
Allied air power has yet attained
sufficient strength to give the nee
essary protection to full-scale land
ings.
Transport Maj jor Problem.
The availability of transports for
supplies from America to England
and for supplies and troops to cross
the Channel also appeared to be a
major problem.
The Socialist newspaper La Senti-
nellie noted that the psychosis Of
a second front has profoundly pen
Grated the spirit of the masses in
Germany" and added that while
propaganda is directed toward be-
littling its chances, the German high
command lis convinced that sooner
or later the problem will put itself
In direct manner"
With this in mind 'the Germans
have erected in haste bases of de-
fense all along the coasts of occu-
pied regions" the newspaper said.
Neutral newspapermen had a
glimpse of these defenses in recent
tour of the fortification zone.
Along the coasts of France, Bel
eium and Holland, according to a
correspondent of La Sentinelle who
visited the zone, ''even in places
most exposed, the German dispo-
sition of defenses extends barely
more than to kilometers g to 4
miles, in depth"
Rivers Also Fortified.
He wrote that in many places
protected by the nature of the
terrain no artificial defense system
had been established.
Such breaches were described as
numerous and extending sometimes
for several miles. The defended
sectors were likened to the French
defense system in the north in
May, 1910. with "a multiple line of
spikes presumably concrete bar
riers) and burrows of machine gun
nests supported by some armored
fortresses.
Boulogne, Calais. DunkerQue and
Ostend were reported to be strong
points guarded by powerful coastal
batteries and anti-aircraft guns.
In contrast, the correspondent OF
La Sentinelle wrote. "The Germans
have powerfully fortified the Meuse
and Rhine, which would tend to
prove little confidence in their
coastal defense
One of the Germans difficulties
is that trained troops are not avail
able for transfer to the coast, he
wrote.
Dieppe One of Nazi Strong Points.
He estimated that the troops now
In position in France. Belgium and
Holland totaled about 80 divisions
formed of three distinct elements
young recruits of 10 to 20 . . in
sufficiently prepared and not Injured
to war: secondly. elements having
been in Russia and actually on leave
after suffering particularly heavy
losses in hard combats in the Donets.
and finally, greater number of the
grand reserve tof an average age
of 40 to 45 years.
1t appeared here that at Dieppe
the Allies hit at one of the toughest
spots of German resistance.
Seasoned military observers ex-
pressed the belief that the Channel
Notifications undoubtedly were
strong. but accepted as highly prob
able the Interpretation that the
Germans have not had time to erect
,impenetrable Notifications. They
gave as an example Norway. where
the German press still speaks of con-
tinued work on defenses.