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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0372.PDF
196 FEBRUARY 22ND, 1945 WAR IN THE AIR Saxony. -Both were Kingdoms up t<\ the end of the first world war. Their\ two Capitals, Munich and Dres- den, have now learnt what comes to those who join with the Prussians in trying to dominate the world. It re- mains to be seen what will happen to Vienna; but Austria was overrun by Hitler in the most unscrupulous manner, and British feelings towards the Austrians are distinctly different from those concerning true Germans. Austrians are not Huns. On their way back from the Crimea our Prime Minister and Mr. Eden flew once more to Greece, and had an en- thusiastic reception in Athens. Air- craft certainly help the diplomatic as well as the operational side of war. Everyone hopes that now a new-era of peace and prosperity lies before the Hellenes. E.L.A.S. has committed horrible barbarities; but what we want to remember about the Greek people is the magnificent stand they put up against the Italians before the Germans interfered. Blow After Air Blow "TWENTY-FOUR hours did not see -*• the end of Dresden's tribulations. The blows were followed up by other raids from the air. The effort of the British and American Air Forces has reached heights which make the reader gasp. It is useful to cast one's mind back and remember the sensation caused in this country by the first 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne some couple of years ago. A raid by 1,000 machines is now a commonplace; but one can still be astonished by the way in which the numbers of bombers regu- larly despatched against Germany has A JAP NIPS IN I A Superfort burns furiously after a Japanese air attack on tneAmerican base on Saipan. Most of the attacks on Tokyo start from Saipan. recently swollen, and continues to swell. In 36 hours last week the attack was made by between 12,000 and 13,000 machines, both British and American, based in Britain, Italy, Holland, Belgium, and France. Alto- gether they dropped about 14,000 tons of bombs on Germany, the vast majority of which were aimed at rail- ways and other transport targets. One has often pondered on the prob- lems set to the German High Com- mand by the simultaneous attacks from East and West. On what prin- ciple was the Command to move troops about? Which was the most dan- gerous front? It almost looks as if the questions will presently be settled WORMS' EYE VIEW : A concentration of bombs bursts on the railway bridge^,over the Rhine at Worms. The attack was made by Liberators of the U.S. 8th A. by the Allied bombers, and that no movements at all will be possible. Side by side with the attack on transport goes the attack on oil, which means that the roads can be no ade- quate alternative to the railways. They never are an alternative, where long hauls are needed ; they only serve for tactical reinforcements just behind the front of a battle. But oil is also necessary for the movements of tanks, armoured cars, and self-propelled guns, without which a modern army cannot fight with any effect. It has lately been announced that the bomb- ing offensive has deprived the Ger- mans of four-fifths of their oil produc- tion. The Germans raged and raved at the terms of what has been called the Crimea Charter, declaring that they would fight on to the end. But it looks as if soon they will be left with very little in the way of fighting mate- rial. They cannot halt Eisenhower or Zhukov or Koniev with bows and arrows or with bare fists. Mud and Rivers T^HEY have still got some resources, -*- obviously ; but at the present time theit chief ally is mud. That is slow- ing down the advance of Eisenhower's men in the West, and Zhukov's men in the East. But then, Koniev is already well beyond the upper reaches of the Oder, and is extendiiKj his con- quests. Rivers have never/et stopped the Russians, and some/ authorities hold that in a major wa/ a river has never yet proved as impassable barrier. fli^A HW fnT "HiUinii ii bound- ary, aijd^Blarshal Fochf wa^urgent in it France's eastern boundary As a bouVdary, ntly defensible; istacle to atsud- f ~ light to be the Rr, it may not be per; but at I&*£&*&
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