Show LONDON hit hard terrific series of air attacks on england especially on london plus tremendous losses at sea brought forth the frank statement in commons that the spring blitz promised by littler hitler was now fully under way government leaders expressed confidence in the outcome balancing against ship losses unannounced and damage inflicted on german naval arid and undersea strength not to mention loss of 0 planes more than italian and nazi aircraft have been downed with a loss of about 2200 british airplanes the air ministry said since tile the beginning of the war this it was claimed Is a significant ant and important inroad into the first line strength of both air armadas madas nr but a more severe blow to the italians with about 1500 planes downed than to germany with about put out ot of action the naval chiefs in london emphasized the british need of ships particularly ticul arly naval vessels paid a glowing tribute to tho the work of the 50 60 former U S destroyers obtained in swaps for bases and one authority said yc lye have enough trained men to man the entire U S navy it if it could be turned over to us not that he meant he said that the navy should be turned over but he pointed the manpower that britain has trained as compared with tho the available ships As to the effects of air raids on london and other british cities the loss of life again was becoming heavy guardedly it was disclosed that buckingham palace again had been struck portsmouth was a special attack I 1 object and there was heavy loss of life there |