Bombing Offensive
The effects of a heavy blow delivered by British or American bombers cannot be so easily measured as the effects of a battle won by forces on the ground, but they may be no less damaging to the enemy, and may contribute equally to the winning of the
war. A Russian victory destroys enemy personnel and equip- ment in the front line. Our bombing of German industry destroys equipment before it reaches the front line, and has its effect also on skilled personnel. Sir Archibald Sinclair and Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris made speeches last week emphasising the magni- tude of the results which were being achieved by Bomber Com- mand. Its striking-power, said the former, was at least twelve times as great as at the outbreak of war. Some of the results may be measured by the fact that 7,000,000 people were admitted by the Germans to have been bombed out and evacuated, and that we are detaining in Germany, as the Air Chief Marshal said, 3,000,000 able-bodied men employed in connexion with the de- fences. He said that we were well on the way toward the destruc- tion of the 4o centres which are vital to Germany's production and the 5o others that are of high importance. It is clear that we shall get results still more important when bombers based on Italy are able to strike repeatedly at industries in the south and east of enemy territory. Up to the present western Germany has had more than its share of attention. It is often pointed out that the policy of bombing industry is a long-term policy. It destroys future capacity for making war; but it may also have a quicker effect in the sense that any attack on reserves must influence present ex- penditure of power. In the " grand assault on Europe," whenever it takes place, it will make all the difference that it has been pre- ceded by the destruction of strength at the source.
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