Reading British, neutral and enemy reports it is possible to get a clear idea of how the Germans are conducting their air-raids against London.: Boasting as they do that these visitations are in retaliation for the British raids on Berlin, and endeavouring to establish the contention that their bombs are directed against military objectives, the fact ds that while in some cases this may be true, in other instances it most certainly is not. The dock area from just east of Tower Bridge to Woolwich has been severely bombed, and while considerable damage has been done, it is reported that the functioning of the docks has not in any way been seriously impeded. The area involved includes St. Katherine's Docks, the Commercial Docks, and the West and East India Docks. They are legitimate objectives for the Germans to attack, but either through carelessness or in an endeavour to spread frightfulness and terror adjacent areas where are housed some of London's poorest have been as heavily bombed as the docks themselves. Particularly is that the case at Bromley, where it is reported that the gas works have been destroyed.
As evidencing the complete and utter, dis-A for the few remaining decencies of war a reference to the other parts of London which have been bombed is all that is assary. It is known that St. Giles's Cripplegate, narrowly escaped leg ion, only receiving minor damage, some time last week. What possible military objective there is in that area it is difficult to understand, unless it consists of the cheap wholesale toy shops along Houndsditch, where toy pistols are usually on sale. Again the vicinity of St. Paul's Cathedral has been damaged by German fliers. What military objective there is there it is difficult to understand, unless inspired by anti-religious motives the Nazi airmen are seeking to wipe out the church publishing houses in Pater-moster Row. Bombs dropped near the Guildhall might have been aimed at the Bank of England, though perhaps it is the German -eontention*that the Guildhall itself has some military significance.
Similarly the bombs which have been opt on the outskirts of don, doing Hilary faces, schools and all sorts of objectives are completely without the means to answer back. There can be only one of two explanations for this sort of conduct. Either the Germans are bent upon the wholesale slaughter of innocents in the hope of spreading terror,—in which they have signally failed ELO present,—or fear of British antiaircraft' defences forces them to fly so high that, they are completely incapable of accurate bombing. Perhaps it is a combination of both, for all that has happened since
Oce at Warsaw and Rotterdam, Waren and. Roterian, felearly goes to show the evil intent which "animal se wretched men headed by Hitler and Goering.
It has been remarked in connection with British raids over Germany that the Germans are being given a taste of their own medicine. It is to bë hoped that this is the case. It is "not the slightest use being mealy-mouthed about it, Totalitarian war has to be answered with totalitarian war. There can be no question-of turning the other cheek, Indeed "it cannot-be done, for Great Britain is quite unable at present to produce another London for the Germans to bomb indiscriminately. It should. be remembered that should Great Britain mot retaliate in. kind it would only be taken by the Germans as a sign of weakness, for that is how the average bully regards anything in the light of chivalrous treatment. Berlin, the whóle of Berlin, is just as much a military objective as is the whole lof London. It would be preferable to strike only at the essential points connected with "the Government of Germany in Berlin, but if German aviators are to continue behaving with the utter ruthlessness and callousness, they display at present, is it to be expected that the virile British will sit down meekly under it? That is not how this war will be won. Britain can only win it by giving blow for blow, and then that little extra which means victory. It need not necessitate a diversion from settled plans, but no regard whatever for the German civilian should be allowed to interfere with the due execution of those schemes. Hitler and Goering are certainly afflicted by no such qualms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.