WEAK DEFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 158, 5 July 1940, Page 3

WEAK DEFENCES.

IRELAND'S DANGER.

URGENT NEED FOR UNITY.

PROBLEM FOR BRITAIN.

(By Air Mall.)

LONDON-, June 1

It » being urged more and more strongly that the Pri me Minister of Northern Ireland, Lord Craigavon, and he Prlme Minister of Eire, Mr. de Valera, must be persuaded to set aside controversy and organise a defence plan winch would give Ireland a reasonable certainty of eurviving an attack by the potential invader, who threatens Iraland's existence as much as the United kingdom's.

It is . suggested that certain steps could be taken while Eire and Northern Ireland are still trying to agree on a united echeine of defence. A strong force could be sent to Northern Ireland ready to drive out any German army whidi landed in Eire.

It is contended that Britain could afford to send 100,000 motorieed troops to tare.

Another proposal is that, to avoid offending the sensibilities of the. people of Eire French, Polish and Belgian units should be employed as much as poesible. An equally urgent need ie that Eire should grant the Britieh Navy permission to use Eire ports and the Royal Air *orce permission to use Eire aerodromes.

Before the German attack is launched. Britain will be a strongly defended fortress, but little has been done so far to guard Ireland. Yet, if Ireland is occupied, Germany will be able to offer an extremely dangerous threat to the west coaet ports through which Britain is now breathing.

Eire's Hurried Preparations. The nucleus around which Eire is now hurriedly trying to build up an adequate army is a little Regular Force of about 8000 strong, backed by reserves and volunteers.

This force might have to cope with superbly equipped German shock troops, operating in territory where the Irish Republican Army would provide a "fifth column" as dangerous as any ■which helped to defeat the little Continental neutral countries.

The invading force would inevitably suffer heavy losses, but once air bases were seized fighters ae well as bombers could land on Eire from Brittany, only 400 miles away. Thus any German force which gained a foothold in Eire would not need to suffer the disadvantages of the Allied Army in Norway, which lacked land-baeed aircraft to protect it against enemy bombers and bomb counter-attacking forces.

Military commentators point out that occupation of the European coastline from the Arctic to Spain gives Germany a wide area from which to execute feints. Perhaps, while ostentatiously menacing the east coast, she will make her main onslaught against Ireland.

If she does so she has at present a good chance of success if she is prepared to sacrilice thousands in the effort. It is considered unlikely that she. would be able to transport more than a few troops to Eire by sea. The main attack would inevitably be made with airborne troops.

It is contended that Germany already has demonstrated that she is able to lift from 2000 to 3000 men in 100 transport planes, with light artillery and small tanks.

In this connection, an unconfirmed report from Bucharest says that Russian planes, probably as a rehearsal for more serious operations, carried baby tanks by air, landed them in Bessarabia, and seized the town of Reni.

British tank experts are satisfied that email tanks can be carried by air and they consider it likely that the Germai'e have provided themselves with them.

A country is not immune from attack from troop-carriers until every flat field 300 to 400 yards long has been obstructed and every inlet in which seaplanes can land has been guarded.

Lord Craigavon Criticised. Lord Craigavon's speech, in which he oppoeed a united Parliament for Ireland, but offered co-operation in defence if Mr. de Valera took hie etand beside Britain has been vigorously attacked by Liberal newspapers. The "Newa-Chronicle" says: "Lord Craigavon's speech means that Ulster will not end what ie called partition even to help save the British Empire from destruction. Let Lord Craigavon and Mr. de Valera meet at once, forget their damnable iterations, and agree upon a united Ireland to reeiet the enemy at our g^tes." The "Manchester Guardian" says: "Lord Craigavon's reply ie in his most obstinate vein. He tries to lay down conditions even for co-operation in defence with the South. Lord Craigavou must not complain if the British Government is compelled to go over his head, and appeal to the common eenee of the Irieh people."