The Parachute Raiders
The enemy is versatile in his use and exploitation of ruses de guerre. The employment of parachute troops has owed most of its success to the element of surprise, causing disorganisation at unexpected points in Holland and Belgium, where little pro- vision had been made to cope with lightning raids. The danger has been increased by the cunning and illegal disguise of dressing the parachutists in Allied uniforms or civilian clothes. The enemy frequently resorted to this trick in Poland and Norway, but the lesson had not been fully appreciated. Now the Allies know and are fully alive to the danger, and it should soon be possible to make such attacks in the rear un- profitable. It must be dealt with by a widespread organisation specifically designed for the purpose, and in such a way as not to divert from their task troops operating according to plan. Mr. Eden has announced that full provision has been made to deal with such raiders, but to supplement this he is very wisely creating a force of Local Defence Volunteers, in which men from seventeen to sixty-five may give part-time service, and there has been an immediate rush to join. Forces must be distri- buted at vulnerable points all over the country, and the units must be well equipped and highly mobile. To drop para- chutists in the uniform of their own country is a legitimate act of war ; but for Germans to come disguised as Allied soldiers or civilians is a flagrant abuse of the laws of war which should be punishable with death. Germany herself, by her protestation that no such disguises have been employed, seems to admit this.
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