Evening star., 1943-05-15


The use of the air umbrella as a
means of supplementing the striking
power Of tanks, artillery and in
fantry has now reached such a
degree of efficiency that the Allied
commands are eager and impatient
to put it into effect on the CONT
nent at the earliest opportunity.
1t will be recalled that just three
years ago the Germany Army began
rolling back all opposition by a
devastating use of dive bombers and
aircraft operating in conjunction
with tanks. Today the Allied armies
have an even better quality of
weapons and larger supply than
the Germans had or will have.
1t begins to grow clear, too, that
the air raids over targets on the
continent have performed a dual
Misunderstanding at the Nazi fac
tories and plants, but also drawing
out the fighter planes so as to give
combat experience for the many
thousands of pilots and crews.
Confidence in Superiority.
Unquestionably. experience gained
In the raids and in operating 400 and
500 plane attacks is an important
factor in the invasion plans for the
future. The enormous task of pro-
viding supply bases and fuel depots
for these huge air operations in
North Africa has given our supply
STATS an experience that will enable
them to handle the large scale
moves that must be made in an
invasion campaign
The significant fact is that the
Allied command and the officers of
the United Nations who are assem-
bled here reveal confidence and an
enthusiasm for the coming combat
operations that reflects plainly be-
lief in victory. 1t is not overconfi-
dence such as comes from the theory
that an enemy Is weak or inferior
In fighting strength. 1t is rather a
confidence that our equipment is
better, our ammunition is better and
that our airpower is unparalleled
In world history.
President Roosevelt is right in
asking that airplane production
figures be reckoned in poundage,
for. while it may turn out that only
$4,000 planes are built this year in
comparison with the 125,000 set as
the goal, it is much more important
that the proportion of heavy bomoer
and better armored fighter planes
now being produced by the United
Nations Is higher, too.
Most important is the fact that
fighter planes can now get across
vast ocean spaces under their own
power because of the recently an
nounced device permitting extra gas
tanks. This must mean that in the
Pacific, as we'll as in the Atlantic,
aircraft Is moving to destira ton
In greater and greater numbers.
But apart from the raids which
are carried on to soften enemy DO
sitions, the blending of airpower
and tank power is the great ac-
complishment of the hour. 1t ex-
plains the defeat of the Germans
and Italians in Tunisia. 1t was
dramatized in an announcement
several weeks ago by Gen. Mac
Arthur, who really drove the Japs
out of most of New Guinea by that
sort of tactics.
Psychological Factor Enters.
incidentally, while blows are be-
Ing planned of very sensational
nature, there is always the chance
that enemy resistance will weaken
If psychological factors are we'll
handled. The President made sig
nif1cant statement this week about
the probability that large numbers
of German and Italian prisoners
would be sent to the United States.
Most Of the soldiers of the Ger
man Army have doubtless heard of
the abundance of food in America,
or else they have known through
relatives that prisoners are kindly
treated. Many remained here after
the last war. Others came here
from Germany and wrote letters
about the United States.
1t is a safe assumption that if
the propaganda is permitted to per-
tolate into Germany that prisoners
can expect good treatment, the
tendency to offer the last-ditch re-
sistance which Hitler and Goebbels
are pleading for will be reversed.
The optimism in Washington
should not be misconstrued. 1t Is
long-range rather than a short
range feeling. The confidence in
victory has deepened, but those who
Know point to the tremendous Job
ahead that is involved in invading
Europe and in arming China in the
Far East.
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