The Press: Military Doubletalk

Fed up with the military doubletalk of Fleet Street Clausewitzes, two London journals last week tried their hand at ridicule by slight exaggeration.

Said the Daily Express’ famed Beachcomber: “The Allies were not surprised, because they knew the possibility of a surprise attack. What surprised them was that the Germans thought it worth while to make a surprise attack … in view of the fact that we knew that they would try to surprise us.”

Added Punch: “Military experts are unanimous that Rundstedt has taken an irrevocable step toward what may be the turning point of the hinge of the pincers he cannot draw out from or with.”