Daily Post - 11.12.1941, Page 2

2
DAIJLY íost
DAILY POST
is publisned by
Blaðahringurinn.
Editors: S. Benediktsson.
Sgt. J. I. McGhie.
Office: 12, Austurstræti, Tel.
3715, Reykjavík. Printed by
Alþýðuprentsmið j a n
Thursday, Dec. 11, 1941
Britain’s Big Bombers Make
Good
The Fortunes of War
The news frcm the Far East
is very grave. Once again in
this war a fiendish disregard of
all international codes of hon-
our and a cynical pursuit of
policies of trickery, deception,
and fraud have reaped their
initial “rewards”: the U.S.A.
have lost valuable bases, and
the British valuable warships.
It would be futile to attempt
to minimise the gravity of these
reverses, but it would be
equally misleading to concen-
trate our whole anxious attent-
ion upon the Far East, to the
exclusion of all other factors
in this World War.
We realise at once that Japan
has ranged herself against all
the Amerlcas, the British Em-
pire, the Dutch East Indies. and
socner or later inevitably
against the Soviet Union, All
these in addition to her foe of
the past fcur years, unconquer-
able China. The elements of
surprise and treachery, which
have been responsible for Jap-
an’s recent successes, are quick-
ly losing their deadly potency.
The fight is becoming a
“straight” one, and the final
issue can never for a moment
be in doubt.
In Europe we find the Ger-
mans in retreat for the first
time. In Africa the second
round cf the Libyan campaign
is going well for us. In America
we are witnessing the mightiest
industrial power in the world
rolling up its sleeves. Isolation-
ism has vanished overnight;
America is united as never be-
fore; Labour disputes have
given way to an enthusiastic
call from workers and employ-
ers alike for greater energy in
America’s war effort; the mom-
entum of America’s vast schem-
es and plans is increasing hour-
iy.
Britain’s bombing offens-
ive in the West continued
throughout the past month
on a heavy scale, despite the
worst Novemher weather
conditions experienced since
the war hegan- On one night
in two effective bomhing was
impracticable; yet the tonn-
age of homhs delivered on
German targets was nearly
half as much again as in
November of last year. But
for the weather it would
have been much theavier
still.
Eighteen targets in Germany
itself were attacked — the
biggest attacks being on Ham-
burg and Emden which had
three r a?ds each. Berlin was
visited once; so were Bremen,
Bremerhaven, Cologne, Cux-
haven, Dusseldorf, Luibeck and
Mannheim. Essen and Kiel
were attacked tw^ce each dur-
ing the month.
TARGETS
German targets in occupied
territories were also heavily
attacked. Places visited includ-
ed Dunkirk (7 times), Ostend
(6), Boulogne and Brest (4
each), Cherbcurg (3), Le Havre.
Calais, and Berck twice each.
Altogether 38 targets were at-
tacked in enemy-occupied terri-
tory in the west. In addition
there have been the big offens-
ive operations in Libya.
* * *
Mueh of the credit for sus-
taining the air offensive against
the enemy in Europe in the
face of difficult weather condit-
ions and increasing opposition
is dué to the big new aircraft
now operating with the R.A.F.
bomber fleets. The heavy
bomber of the Short Stirling
and Handley Page Halifax type
has shown a distinct superiority
over the earlier 2-motor types
when operating in bad weather
conditions. It has also proved
markedly superior in penetrat-
ing the enemy’s defences ahd
especially in combat with ene-
my fighters. Apart from the ad-
vantages of carrying a greater
load for each unit operating,
with a consequent saving in the
riumbers of personnel engaged
for an equal weight of bombs
carried, the greater speed and
heavier defensive armament
has resulted in a reduction in
the inevitable margin of air-
craft lost in action. The per-
centage of new big bcmbers lost
cn night raids has proved
appreciably lower than that
suffered by the earlier 2-motor
types, even when operating
under identical conditions.
DEVELOPMENT
Britain’s decision to develop
the bomber along the lines of
greater size with load capacity
allied with high defensive
qualities and as much speed as
may be possiible — is to some
extent shared by America.
The enemy’s own choice, so
far revealed, still seems to be
in the direction of speed with
comparatively light armament.
Apart from the commerce-
raiding Focke Wulf, no new big
4-motcr types have yet appear-
ed in the west. None the less
the Nazis have learnt some-
thing from the R.A.F. about
defensive armament on their
bombers since the days of the
Battle of Britain.
Like an earlier decision. the
adoption by the R.A.F. of the
8-gun fighter, the decision to
develop the big bomber was
made in pre-war days. The grim
experience of actual war condit-
ions was not available to prove
the öecision right or wrong. In
the event both decisions have
been proved to be right.
COPENHAGEN
CHUCKLE
A Danish newsagent operat-
ing a kiosk on one of the busiest
street corners in Nazi-cccupied
Copenhagen hung out an Eng-
lish textbook, English in Fifty
Hours, under a poster saymg-
“Learn English Before fhe
Tommies Arrive.” The German
military authorities objected
strongly, insisting that he take
the placard down, and after
several requests the newsagent
finally did.
The next day, in the same
place, he hung out a German
textbook, German in Fifty
Hours, and a new sign saying-’
“Leam German Before our
Friends the Germans Depart.’
The sign is still up, and all
Copenhagen is chuckling.
No. 1 RHYTHM CLUB,
ICELAND.
— * : \t\
Meeting tonight at the Cat-
holic Club 7.30 p.m. will iD'
clude a record recital and a
“jam-session” given by memb-
ers of “The Ambassadors oí
Swing” with guest stars.
Have you read Eric Linklater’s book on
“TJie Northern Garrlsons"?
only 1 krona at
The Kron Bookshop
(Next Gamla Bio Cinema)
Large stock of new books now arriving
Come and look round them
AT LAST a sensible and healthy “time-killer” for the troops. — BATTLESHIPS. — Best game out for two
players. Once you have tried it, — you will find the same, there is NOTHING to beat this splendid game.