The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-06-22
Allied Supremacy in Air
Result Of African Lesson
Borrowed Page From Germanys Book Taught
Us to Coordinate Efforts Of Air,
Land and Sea Forces.
WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne.Us Analysi and Commentator.

WNU Service, Union Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
Early In the war with Japan, when
the little men OF Nippon were
swarming down the Maylayan Pen
insulas at an unbelievable rate
through impossible terrain and roll
ing up one uncomfortable victory
after another. had a talk with
wise old military campaigner, and
as result OF the conversation, sat
down and wrote that "infiltration"
IS a word you are going to hear
used a lot before this war is over.
Then followed the days when the
Japs pushed the allies back from
Singapore to New Guinea and the
men OF Nippon were acclaimed as
the aces of jungle fighting, the art
OF filtering through territory in
which heretofore human beings
were not supposed to be able to fight.
Today, the allies have produced
the best jungle fighters in. the world.
We are daily beating the Japs at
their own game.
And today, was reminded Of
something else after another session
with another anonymous oldtimer,
Of another time and place.
He told me some things about the
allied air force and | recalled the
days when Hitler began to bully
Europe and | realized that It wasn't
so much appeasement. corruption,
deceit or Nazi diplomacy then that
made the Fuehrer master OF CEN
trail Europe, first at Munich and
later in France and the low
countries, but the threatening
shadow which the dreaded Luft-
waite cast across the world.
Today, just as the allies have out
jungled the Japs. they have out
Luftwaffed the LuftWaffe. In the lat
ter case, we must admit the Ger
mans taught us in Africa how they
did it.
Triphibious Warfare
We will be able to understand the
invasion OF Europe much better ii
we understand little more about
the two roles which the allied air
force has played In modern warfare
ever since we took a page from
Germany's book and learned what
it means to coordinate the efforts OF
pilot and bombardier with the foot
soldier and the sailor, especially in
what Is now generally called "tri-
phibious" warfare.
First, it might be well to state
clearly the difference between the
tactical and strategic bombing. Stra-
tegic bombing is directed toward
the destruction of enemy strength at
a distance. Tactical bombing is de-
struction or interruption of enemy
operations in or near the combat
area.
Because the valuable quality oil
air power is f1exibility. the two roles
sometimes overlap, but in general,
the strategic effort is long range
effort in terms of both time and
space-it requires the use OF long.
range bombers and long-range
fighters.
Tactical bombing is the quick
answer to instant needs-it in
wolves lighter bombers and usually
does not require long range for its
craft. There is an exception, which
I'll mention later.
Strategic bombing is aimed, as we
have seen, at factories, at all in
stallations which contribute to the
enemy's war effort railway lines
junctures, military bases, rolling
stock and all means of transpor
tation and communication.
The targets in tactical bombing
are more varied and will be men
toned later.
The Final Phase
We are interested at present ir
the final phase of the European war
so it might be well to describe
the preliminary efforts before, anc
| the continued effort after, the as
sault on an enemy shore.
The Sicilian campaign is gooe
example.
The first job the air force hat
was to remove an obstacle enroute
That obstacle was the island OF Pan
telleria and you remember wha
happened to 1t. II was flattened init
surrender In two days.
Then the real "triphibious" effor
began. It followed a pattern which
is pretty much the one accepted fol
invasions since.
The first step Is the naturalization
Of the enemy air force and this is
job nobody but an air force can do
This means the destruction OF air
| Ia