April 10.
The Germans ire very careful. to keep news of damage done by British raiders hidden, nevertheless it has been so extensive that it has proved impossible to conceal it all. The latest British raids on Kiel, Emden, and Bremerhaven, in which "several hundred" planes were used, will make this concealment even more difficult. For the British are now using a special type of high explosive bomb for which it is claimed disclosures which the British Government that its destructive force is greater than made to the United States during the Lend-anything known before; and also, the growth Lease Bill hearings. It is shown now that of the Royal Air Force, in spite of the de-what the proposals of the Chancellor of the mands made upon it by campaigns elsewhere, Exchequer amount to.are that the Govern-has enabled the British to begin raids on ment will take one-third of the national in-Germany on the same great scale which has come int taxes and expects to borrow an= been favoured by the Nazis since last other one-third, meaning in other words September. Unlike the German raids on that Great Britain will live on one-third of Britain, the British attacks are still being the national income and devote the re-carefully directed against objectives mainder to the prosecution of this war. military importance, in spite of an increas-'The direct effect of this enormous charge ing outcry in the British Isles that raids upon national income, raising as it does halt should be made retaliatory and that the of the Government's domestic expenditure civilian population of the Reich should be from taxes, is that Budget, drawn up by the subjected to the same ordeal as has the: Chancellor' of the Exchequer with the civilian population of Great Britain. assistance of economic experts, grapples British policy is for the present undoubtedly definitely with the grave danger of inflation the best. The time may come when Ger-resulting from the gigantic increase of.pur man moral may be tested in the same way chasing power created by the huge expendi-British moral has been tested; and when ture on the war. With the people having this time comes, it is probable that the less to spend, and diverting more to Gov-result will be very different. German inernment needs it is believed that the danger discriminate bombing has only steeled Bri-of inflation has been satisfactorily brought tain's determination to win, Will British under control, and that without the applica bombing of Germany have the same effect tion of artificial methods which might have there? Those who are familiar with the the long run defeated themselves. That German people answer emphatically "No." the full burden has been placed upon direct It is unfortunate for the German efforts taxation has been brought about by the to conceal the damage which has been done recognition that with the schemes to.curtait to their industrial centres, that consistent consumption it would be inconsistent to seek damage which has been done to their com-fo obtain increased revenues from. taxes munications by rail and canal, and the vir~ which would naturally be expected to protual impossibility of maintaining safe sea duce smaller returns as control tightens. communications, have foreed them to main~ Income tax on the earnings of a man who tain extensive civilian air services. A neu-makes no more than 45s. a week means that tral travelling by these air lines can look only the very smallest wage earners are now down upon German cities and see for him-freed from the duty of paying income tox, self damage which has been done, which he though the fact that the 2s, which will be would never be able to sec if he were on collected weekly will be returned to the the ground, since the whole of the damaged payer after the war means that in truth he area would have been roped off. Thus Is merely being obliged to make a Toan to authentic accounts of the effect of RAF. the Government for war purposes. The yaids have been obtainable without much response which has been made to the Gov-difficulty, and the effect has been terrific. ernment's appeals for the people to lend In Berlin the industrial areas have received more for the war purposes has undoubtedly the worst pounding. Unlike London, the been good, and the amounts raised last year shopping centres have been barely touched. were more than satisfactory, but the Budget The Nazis took pride in destroying the great now assures that practically every. wage department stores along Oxford street. The foamer in Great Britain shall bg doing his British replied by, in the words of a neu~ Dit one way or the other in financing the val who flew over Berlin, "the RA. had continuance of the struggle. The Govern-blown up half of the enormous Seimens ment's expressed policy of taking all profit, electrical works a few nights before—and a out of the war is dictated by wider con-few nights later had come back and blown siderations than revenue, "A long-sighted almost the other half, As we flew up view realizes that the need for reconstrue-the grey morning, masses of smoke could tion when peace is secured "makes it imbbe seen pouring from different parts of the perative that funds should be accumulated industrial district. Berlin had received an-now to meet the great demands which peace other reminder that war with Britain is not will make. It is not only a question of child's play." This was immediately after repairing the damage which has been done, night raid which had kept the neutral Jand will continue to be done to Britain by in a shelter most of the night, along with German air-raids, but the enormous amount members of an Italian mission which had of money required to change the whole of been visiting Berlin at the time and, accord-Britain's industrial and economic life from ing to the neutral, seemed none too pleased 4 wartime basis back to the normal one of fo be yoing through the experience. peace, On the flight {rom Berlin to Stuttgart the All this is being done while the Govern observer was able to see the long stretches ment takes the people into its confidence in of splendid: roads which are Hitler's pride, 4 manner which has never before been done, but he commented that there was not a car even in peace time. There is to be found jo be seen on them. Hitler had built his the strength of the British democratic roads, but had stopped people from usin system. Tt may be confidently assorted that them. And he continued neither Hitler nor Mussolini dare be as frank "Another time 1 spotted a burning factory. with their people. The chances are that if 1 was lying close toa railway line and you the Germans and the Italians were to know could see the yellow spots where the bombs the hideous financial mess into which their had hit; a stretch "of line had completely disappeared, while the factory Itself, almost dictators have plunged them, the years of misery which are ahead as they seek to concealed 1h smoke, had most of ft bullings re-establish themselves, they would be de~ This, it should be emphasized is arnly a cidedly more unpopular than they are at beginning. As the great production of the the present time. Sir Kingsley Wood has Empire and the United States swings into presented a Budget which makes the sveatthe tempo of modern war, the strength of est possible demands upon the people of Britain's air force will increase. The damage Great Britain. Willingly they accept those which has been done up to' now will be burdens, recognizing the need of them in the multiplied a hundredfold. With newer and struggle for victory, and it speaks well for greater bombers, there will be no corer of the moral of the people that they do so un-Germany which can escape. The latest grudgingly. models of bombers can fly 3,200 miles with more than five tons of bombs. Their speed over three hundred miles an hour. They
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.