MILITARY OBJECTIVES
SIR,—During a black-out it is no doubt hard to con- centrate on principles or, in other words, on reason, but many of us find difficulty in understanding the particular danger or dangers which a black-out is designed to circum- vent. We hear a great deal about the bombing of open cities and towns and civilian populations, indeed this subject Was thoroughly ventilated during the Spanish Civil War. But, surely cities and towns which have all the most modem defence devices can hardy be called open towns? Then again we hear much about what is and what is not a military objective, but exactly what was the objective of a bombing plane must always remain a matter for conjecture. Thus, if a bomb falls in a slaughter-house it is idle to surmise that the airman's objective was, say, an ammunition dump nearby. As things are, airmen—and especially enemy airmen —probably have no particular objectives. Cities and towns are discovered from the air not so much by light as by compasses and other mathematical instruments. Too many rules and regulations disintegrate the morale of a civilian population and engender a fear complex. To win a war plenty of rational amusements both by day and night is necessary for civilians.—Yours faithfully,
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