PART VII
"... It is a point worth noticing, by any student of strategy, that while the Wabbly in working solely for effectiveness in lowering civilian morale worked upon sound principles, yet the destruction of the Wabbly by Sergeant Walpole and Flight Cadet Ryerson immediately repaired all the damage done. Had it worked toward more direct military aims, its work would have survived it. It remains a pretty question for the student, whether the Enemy Command, with the information it possessed, made the soundest strategic use of its unparalleled weapon.... But on the whole, the raid of the Wabbly remains the most startling single strategic operation of the war, if only because of its tremendous effect upon civilian morale...." (_Strategic Lessons of the War of 1941-43._--U. S. War College. Pp. 94-96.)
A major-general climbed out of a staff gyrocar and waded through mud forhalf a mile, after which he, in person, waked two sleeping men. Theywere sprawled out in the puddle of rain which had gathered in atorn-away tread from the Wabbly. They waked with extreme reluctance, andthen yawned even in the act of saluting in a military manner.
"Yes, sir;" said Sergeant Walpole, yawning again. "Yes, sir; thebombers've gone. We heard 'em tryin' to raise the Wabbly for about halfan hour after she'd blown up. Then they cut off. I think they went home,sir. Most likely, sir, they think we used some new dinkus on the Wabbly.It ain't likely they'll realize they blew it up themselves for us."
The major-general gave crisp orders. Men began to explore the Wabbly,cautiously. He turned back to the two sleepy and disreputable men whohad caused its destruction. His aspect was one of perplexity andadmiration.
"What did you men do?" he demanded warmly. "What in hell did you do?"
Sergeant Walpole grinned tiredly. The 'copter man spoke for him.
"I think, sir," said the helicopter man, "that we affected the morale ofthe Wabbly's and the bombers' crews."
+-----------------------------------------------------------+|Transcriber's Note: || ||The following words have been changed in the above text. || ||Page 404 closed ||Diesel tramp edged closer inshore || ||Page 405 though ||"Hell, Sarge, I thought y'were blown to little egg-shells. || ||Page 414 Moral ||Morale effect," said the major-general || ||Page 417 Pp. 93 (Normalized to match other epigram styles.)||War College. P. 93 || ||Page 406 protuberence ||there, and already a monstrous protuberance || ||Page 416 Lets ||of a fine idea! Let's get some rockets!" || ||Page 411 Hysterisis ||and it gets hot and cooks things. Hysteresis. The same |+-----------------------------------------------------------+
Morale: A Story of the War of 1941-43 Page 7