TOM THUMB NAVY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 184, 5 August 1940, Page 7

TOM THUMB NAVY

INVASION THREAT. High Powered, Heavily Armed Speedboats. GUARDING INLAND WATERS. LONDON, Augnet 4. A correspondent who was permitted to inspect the coastal defences ©f Britain refers to the "Tom Thumb" or "vest pocket" nary. This consist* of high-powered and heavily-armed speed boats, the task of which is to eight German seaplanes seeking to land troops on remote stretches of inland waters and rivers. The commander of a flotilla, said: "We have got surprises for Hitler. They may not be magnetic mines, but something just as good. We are prepared for -his seaplanes night and day." Five thousand members of the Home Guard now attend at Bisley everv week-end for rifle instruction. AH ranges of the National Rifle Association throughout the country are similarly occupied. A British official wireless message says the following statement was made from No. 10, Downing Street: "The Prime Minister wishes it to be known that the possibility of German attempts at an invasion has by no means passed away. The fact that the Germans are now putting about rumours that they do not intend an invasion should be regarded with the double dose of suspicion which attaches to all their utterances. "Our sense of growing strength and preparedness must not lead to the slightest relaxation of vigilance or moral alertness. ,.

BRITISH WAR EFFORT.

MORE OUTS FROM COLONIES. British Official Wireless. (Received 10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 4. British colonies in all parts of the world continue to send gifts to His Majesty's Government to assist in the prosecution of the war. The Governor of the Gold Coast transmitted to the Colonial Secretary £7133, being donations to the Gold Coast fund for war charities. The Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook, has eent a message of thanks to Grenada, Northern Rhodesia and British Guinea for gifts to assist aircraft production.

GANDHI CRITICISES.

BRITISH RULE IN INDIA. (Received 10.30 a.m.) BOMBAY, August 4. Maltatma Gandhi said that Mr. L. S. Ainery. SocrvJary for India, lmti shown want <>f a|>i>roi:ali"n of the gravity of the situation in India. He had grevi-on.-ly underrated the restraint ui Congress in postponing civil disobedience. There was a growing suspicion that the Briti>h were taking advantage of the restraint in order to criii-h the AllIndia Congress.