A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 266, 5 August 1940, Page 8

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Sudden changes in German and Italian statements concerning plans for an attempted invasion of Britain —statements designed to show that it is not immediately contemplated—are arousing some suspicion in England. Air. Churchill, after a tour of defence zones, issued a warning that there was no reason to suppose that the danger of such a Get man move had passed and enjoining the utmost vigilance. He made it clear that he was not disposed to believe implicitly what the Get mans and Italians are saying. Measures to meet such an attack are all the time being perfected. It is now revealed that ou hikes and rivers ou which Geiman tioopcarrying seaplanes might kind, an armed mosquito fleet is waiting to give them a hot reception. It promises surprises foi any Germans who arrive. More Canadian troops have reached Britain. There is a possible significance in the fact that. Germany on Friday night essayed the most intensive series of aerial attacks on Britain vet launched. J lie last of three raids on a south-east coast town lasted over an hour, and bombs were dropped over many other parts of the country. However, their effort on Satin day night was on a much smaller scale. Ihe enemy has also begun to drop leaflets. While this has been going on the R.A.l 1 . has been lai fioin inactive, liven Berlin is reported to have had a scare, two planes flying low over the centre of the city. Industrial and military targets in Germany and German-occupied territory have been heavily bombed. 'Mr. Churchill has added to the War Cabinet by the inclusion of Lord Beaverbrook. The fact that Lord Beaverbrook is to continue as Minister for .Aircraft Production leads the Daily lelegtaph to speculate whether Mi’. Churchill plans some i eorganization of his Government, suggesting that a post may be found foi Ml. Lloyd George. T lie Anglo-Japanese controversy over the arrest of Biitish subjects in Japan has taken a new turn with the arrest of two leading Japanese'business men in London. To the Japanese Ambassador in London, Lord Halifax emphasized that the attests wete made in the interests of security and were not in any way an act of reprisal. General opinion in Tukio is reported to be that the Btitish at rests are retaliation for the Japanese actions. Iwo more Biitish subjects have been arrested bv the lapanesc, this time in Ixotea, and a Japanese newspaper talks of the new Foreign Minister visiting .Axis capitals in furtherance of Japan s diplomatic plans. Events in Rumania have developed rather curiously with the hitherto pro-Nazi Iron Guard distributing “no-surrender" pamphlets. The Peasants’ Party is also opposing the transfers of territory which the Germans are said to have urged on Rumania. T here has been marked aerial activity in North Africa, where the Italians are assembling troops on the Libyan border, presumably for a move against Egypt. British forces have captured an enemy post in Abyssinia and repelled a coimter-attack. Incidentally, the Italians are reported Io be having trouble with the Albanians. The L'niled States Government is believed to be considering ways of increasing its help to Britain.