Show L-j. L j. j W. W T. T MASON SAYS litters litter's Purported Air fir Victory Britain Poses Pose New slew Problem f r T 1 MASON IASON Press Press War ar Expert carfare when a long prod pro pro- offensive suddenly J major d d with no objective reached th claims of great gains gams and u th g something ething g fund funda funda- aIt a- a It must be wrong A week weekday Hitler's air attack to tolate tolate tolate flay day late Britain reached its ch chilli cli- cli ith illi the emotionally heralded of London suburbs iJ ax how ev er has since be- be iii jn anticlimax because the ns sha e hate not followed through ness ie ness of aerial warfare he necessity for studying dry ary results and unexpected obstacles do not explain adequately the present lull Interruption of a week in following up an alleged defeat of the enemy comes near to confession that no defeat has Peen een inflicted If enemy casualties and damage have been three to four times those of the offensive why the necessity for studying results before going ahead Defeat Deleat Is Regarded The fact that Germany has been compelled to p postpone further air blitzkrieg offensives if not actually abandoning them for the season must be regarded as a defeat for Hitler not only in the air but also at home An aggressive war mat ma ma- t chine which has proclaimed conquest conquest conquest con con- quest as its motive must continue its ts offensives or risk disillusioning its ts own civilian support This fact does not hold in the I same way for a nation defensively fighting lighting to preserve itself Here is Hitler's fillers present dilemma The necessity for a conc conr- to continue continue continue con con- conquering or risk downfall is axiomatic throughout all military history A conqueror always is on the defensive defensive de de- de- de along the home front Having Haying Hav Hay ing promised his people domination domination domination domina domina- tion over the enem enemy he must make his gains to justify the sacrifices he hc exacts at home If he fails falls in any major sense to do so that becomes becomes becomes be be- comes a defeat as influential on future events as a retreat in the field Conqueror on Spot To sit tight and hold the enemy from advancing is possible for a defending defending defending de de- de- de fending nation without loss of morale morale mo mo- rale but a conqueror must push ahead To check the enemy is not sufficient He must overwhelm them or he cannot explain his losses That is Hitler's present position It is an old one in the careers of world conquerors and is the risk they all have had to take Hitler must now be beginning to understand understand understand under under- stand this axiom of conquest He Hc cannot await events He must try to make them obedient to his will He has brought his war machine face to face with the final enemy But his air force has not found the secret of success his total blockade cannot even close the channel at its narrow mile 20 width to British shipping his long range bombardments are answered in turn He has a fully equipped army of perhaps men but they are idle Arm Army Wants Rants Action This great mechanized force is locked within the European continent continent continent conti conti- nent but it seems to be Hitler's Hitler s last hope To risk his army by trying to invade Britain would seem to approach too near to outright disaster dis dis- dis- dis aster Yet it is hard to believe the army itself will be content to remain re remain re- re main impassive awaiting the full revival of British power It is probable that Hitler now is concerned with this ultimate problem problem problem lem of his career He is examining the direction a new military stroke might take against the British empire empire empire em em- pire with least chance of a setback set set- back The way through the Balkans into Asia Minor seems less dangerous danger danger- ous than any other if Russia can be quieted Should there be no new offensive against Britain German morale at home may well show a serious decline decline decline de de- cline before next winter ends If that that happens the war will th then n enter its concluding phase |