READY FOR INVASION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 80, 14 January 1944, Page 3

READY FOR INVASION.

ROLLING-STOCK ASSEMBLED. LONDON, January 12. Another indication of Allied preparation is given in the news of the assembly in Britain by British and American soldiers of vast quantities of railway rolling-stock for use in the invasion.

It is estimated that 50 miles of new rolling-stock will be ready on the day of the invasion. It is being constructed from prefabricated parts brought from America. The trains are fitted with British and Continental gauges. They are made up of 40-ton refrigerator trucks, tank cars, troop trucks, gun trucks, and machinery to build roads and bridges. It is also stated that Britain and the United States have 10,000,000 tons more shipping fhan they had a year ago. This has an important bearing on the invasion.

While the building up of air. land, and sea forces is going on steadily, and while the High Command is perfecting its plans, it seems that the chief query overhanging all the preparations may be summed up in the word “weather.” The vagaries of the English weather during the immediate months ahead should be borne in mind in attempting to assess when General Eisenhower will name the zero hour.