Transient Immunity

"There is nothing to report." Thus the British Ministry of Home Security last week greeted, the first anniversary of the R.A.F.'s victory in the first round of the Battle of Britain. That vic tory was achieved by the nipping of 185 Jerries in one whirling day. It postponed invasion a year ago.

The Ministry also announced that in all August only 169 Britons were killed and 136 injured by enemy air raids -- the lowest figures since heavy German raids began 13 months ago. There were nearly eight times as many casualties in August 1940, nearly 60 times as many in September

This news gave British morale a boost --too much of a boost, in the opinion of some British leaders. The London Times printed a sober warning:

"When all the contrasts between the air war now and then have been drawn, it would be foolish--and might be disastrous --to conclude that any of these changes in our favor are necessarily permanent. The Luftwaffe has certainly suffered enormous losses in Russia . . . but it is most doubtful whether they are enough to prevent switching over the main force of the Luftwaffe for renewed attacks on our own country."

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