INVASION FRONT?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 238, 8 October 1942, Page 4

INVASION FRONT?

COAST OF DENMARK

GERMAN PRECAUTIONS

Speculation on the opening of a second front in Western Europe has hitherto centred mainly on either of these two possibilities: a crossChannel invasion of the French-Bel-gian-Dutch coast: or an invasion of Northern Norway from bases in Scotland and Iceland. That there is a third possibility, and that the German High Command is not overlooking it, has just been highlighted by significant news from Denmark 'wrote Joachim .Toesten, in the Washington Post in July).

A few days ago the Nazi military authorities in Denmark issued new land stringent regulations by which practically all fishing and shipping along the west coast of Jutland has been provisionally suspended. The precautions taken in this area are very similar to those already in effect along all vital sections of the Norwegian coast. This is particularly significant because only a few years ago it was the practically unanimous opinion of German and Scandinavian military experts that an oversea invasion of Jutland was impossible. Indeed, the west coast, of this peninsula has only one good harbour, Esbjerg, which even before the invasion of Denmark was entirely dominated by the ring of German strongholds on the North-Frisian island of Cylt and in Sehleswig-Hol-stein. But it seems that the Commando technique and the modern landing methods by means of seagoing tanks and flat-bottomed barges has done away with the idea that the sandy dunes of Western .Jutland could not be successfully invaded from Britain. That much can be clearly inferred from the German precautions. Allied Submarines Busy

Coincident with the news of German anti-invasion measures in Denmark comes the sensational disclosure of Allied submarine successes in the Baltic Sea. Germany's "Mare Nostrum." Evidence that not only Russian, but also British submarines have been operating in Baltic waters ever since breaking of the ice a few months ago. has come from various sources.

One indication could be found in the repeated interruptions—which now seem to have led to a total standstill—of the two principal ferry traffic lines between Germany and Scandinavia; the WarnemundeGjedser and the Sassnitz-Trelleborg routes. Another very interesting fact was, perhaps inadvertently, revealed by the Copenhagen daily Dagens Nyneder of May 27. It was an admission, by the Minister of Trade, Halfdan Hendriksen, that the Danish Merchant Fleet had lost 51 ships, totaling 80,000 tons, during the year 1941 alone; losses for 1940 were given as 54 ships. If we take into consideration that in the first quarter of 1940 a number of Danish ships were still sunk by German action, it appears that the tonnage sunk while in Nazi service was even higher in 1941 than the year before. And now comes from Sweden the news that the shipment of iron ore from Lulea, Gavie and Oxelosund to German Baltic ports has been virtually brought to a halt following the sinking of several ore-laden vessels by submarines or mines. In the same connection it is of interest to point out the greatly increased British air activity over Denmark. It appears from recent, issues of Danish and Swedish newspapers that British bombers, in April and Mav. attacked many strategic objectives in Denmark, especially the big Burmeister and Wain shipbuilding yards outside Copenhagen, and airfields in Jutland. Not all of the many visits which British planes have paid to Denmark these last two months were concerned with bombing attacks. A Swedish newspaper which has many times before shown itself to be exceptionally well-informed of goingson in nearby Denmark, the Gothenburg Trade and Shipping Gazette, told on May 16 of "a large number of parachutes that have lately been found in trees, usually three and three together." The paper added that the Germans, in spite of frantic searches, had not yet succeeded in discovering a single one of the parachutists who were supposed to be in hiding in the country.

Escape of a Leader

But even more than by any ol these military events, the German forces in Denmark were thrown into an acute fit of invasion jitters by the news of Christmas Moellcr's successful escape tp Great Britain. The Danish Conservative leader suddenly turned up in London in the second week of May, by way of Sweden. It was the first time that an outstanding Danish political leader had managed to foil the vigilance of the Gestapo and leave the captive country by underground means. The Germans must have been very worried indeed by this sensational flight. Important even before the invasion, Christmas Moeller emerged during the two years that since passed as the unquestioned leader of anti-Nazi resistance. While himself a Conservative of old standing, his following now is composed of men of all parties and he enjoys a tremendous popularity in Denmark. No other event could have galvanised the yet weak and scattered forces of the Free Danish movement, as Moeller's arrival in the British capital did.

To the British, the sttdden arrival of this man must have been a godsend. However closely the Germans in Denmark may have been guarding their military secrets, some Danes must have learned them in these two years of involuntary guestship. And if anybody knew what was going on in Denmark. Christmas Moeller did. When he joined hands with the United Nations, the Nazis lost a battle —and they know it.