Aug. 12, It is only those, who have the opportunity of reading the German propaganda in full, who can really form an idea of the lengths to which Goebbels' prevaricators will go in the hope of persuading the German people, who have no other source of information, that all for the best in the best of worlds.' Yester-in a supplement to the German Army's usual communique, reference was made to reconnaissance flights by German aeroplanes in which it is claimed attacks were made against Neweastle, Sheerness, Chatham, Rochester, and Faversham, alleging that much destruction was done. After that the communigué goes on to state that since the commencement of hostilities, German anti-aircraft guns have brought down 1,500 enemy planes, while anti-aircraft units of the Army and Navy accounted for a further 500, bringing the total to 2,000 enemy aircraft destroyed since the beginning of the war. Tacked on to an account of air-raids over Britain, the suggestion is obviously that that number of British aircraft was destroyed, and as the figures apparently do not include those alleged to have been shot down by German acroplanes, it is clear that the ingenious writers of the supplement are seeking to convey the impression that some thousands of British machines have been destroyed, a ridiculous statement, for if it were true it would be absolutely impossible for the British air force to have reduced military objectives in north western Germany to the mass of ruins they are at present. The fact is that British air~ craft over Germany have not yet met with the resistance that was to be expected.
Dealing with British raids over Germany and German occupied territory, according to the "Westdeutscher Beobachter," British aeroplanes dropping bombs over Duron did not cause any damage; over Bonn and Juelich numerous missiles were dropped causing only slight damage; near Seternich some damage was done to a number of buildings. In a meadow near Duewiss bombs killed two colts and seriously, wounded a cow. Others fell into a brickyard. In Geildnekirchen only minor damage was caused in some fields, while bombs dropped at Spich, Katzenbroieh and Koenigshaven without causing any harm, All mention of the other places which the British raiders visited in the course of the period under review by the German lie factory is conveniently omitted. Nothing is said about the raids on Guernsey, Flushing, Brest, munition factories at Ludwigshaven and Cologne, railway communications in the Ruhr, acrodromes at Schipol and in Germany, Holland and Belgium. And from all these'day and night operations the British machines returned safely.
From what the Germans admit, and what the British claim it is clear that during the twenty-four hours with which the communiqués of the opponents deal, a very large number of British raids were' carried out, and considerable numbers of aeroplanes used, while the only machine lost throughout the day was an Anson of the Coastal Command. The question must naturally arise as to why the German authorities are so blatantly endeavouring to conceal the rear truth from their people. No one in the world will believe that the British Miers are doing no more harm than the slaughter of two colts and the wounding of a cow, for the state of Hamburg many another' military or naval objec ves clearly demonstrates this to be untrue.
The only conclusion to be drawn is that the German Government realizes how destructive of German moral the admission of the actual truth would be. Testimony is available to show that every endeavour is made to prevent knowledge of the destruction wrought upon military objectives in Germany spreading beyond the immediate vicinity of the objectives struck. Such tactics will in the end defeat the purpose with which they have been inspired, and the question must obvious ly be asked' as to whether they are not dictated by a realization on the part of the German authorities that there is more than grave probability that their people cannot long stand up under the impression of defeat, which this knowledge that the British can and are hitting back strongly must inevitably
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.