Nor is that the only advantage which the use of striking bases on the Western Front confers on us, for as a glance at the map will show, each ton of explosives dropped on England by the Germans would cost them twice as much in petrol and in wear and tear on engines and machines, as it would cost us to drop a ton Germany.
Mention of fuel recalls that the balance of advantage in oil, the indispensable motive power in modern war, must ultimately rest with the Allies. Germany has laid in large reserves of oil, but, owing to British and French control of the seas, these cannot be readily replenished. No doubt she will obtain some from Russia and some from Rumania, but there are grave transport and political difficulties in each case. Britain controls the seas. She can prevent the oil from Iraq, Burma, the Dutch Ea Indies and America from reaching Germany, and she can herself obtain all the oil she requires.
Oil is not the only raw material of which the German Air Force will be starved. For many metals and other essential materials required for her aircraft industry Germany is depen dent on imports from which she is now cut off. In short, Britain access to unlimited raw materi Germany only to strictly limited supplies.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.