COMING PERIL OF INVASION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 110, 3 February 1941, Page 8

COMING PERIL OF INVASION

Views Of German Flans NOW OR BY MAY, SAYS U.S. MINISTER Use Of Gas Against Britain (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.! LONDON, January 31. Information from the interior of Germany indicates that an attempt to invade the British Isles may begin at any moment, said the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, testifying before the ' Foreign Affairs Committee of the American Senate today (states a message from Washington). He said he had heard authoritatively that the Germans were now studying the weather conditions for the purpose of seizing the first available good spell in which to attack.

“All the signs points to a very grave crisib within 60 or 90 days,’ he said, and added: “If the attempt comes there are strong indications that gas will be used on a large scale.” Among the menacing developments Colonel Knox suggested was the bombing of industrial centres as more effective than the indiscriminate bombing of London. He stated that Britain needed to find a more successful way of combating the submarine menace. It would be wild fancy, he said, to believe that a negotiated peace could bring stability to Europe. Speaking of German aeroplane production. he said he had information that there had been a lull in the last month or two during which American and British factories had produced more planes than the German factories. That lull was due to a desperate German search for a new type of plane that would render obsolete all planes now in the air. Cannot Stand Still. Commenting on the possibility of an invasion, the British Ambassador, Lord Halifax, said “It is hard to see how Hitler can stand still. I think Hitler will act, too. because of the situation developing in Italy, in the Balkans, and because of the internal conditions in Germany.” Sir Edward Peacock, a British Treasury official, on his arrival at New York from Britain, said that the indications were that an invasion would be attempted within GO days. The Governor-General designate of New Zealand, Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, at a Press conference at Ottawa said. “I am not sure whether Hitler will try a Hing a.t invasion, but he will probably try again. To do that, he must control the air first. IVe gave him a good hiding last autumn, and will give him another and a better one this time.” Sir- Cyril said that night bombing was on the verge of being beaten. thanks to the use of scientific instruments.' He was certain that the British nightly bombing of Germany was hurting Hitler’s industrial machine. “Don’t worry about the British,” he said: “they won’t crack.” Mr. Wendell Willkie, after making a rapid tour of the Dover are_a, said: “I think the Germans have a tough job on hand. I would not like to be a German soldier.” “Biggest Slaughter.” (Received February 2, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, February’ 1. Mr. Willkie, interviewed by the “Sunday Dispatch.” said “If ever the Huns attempt an invasion it will be the biggest slaughter in history. Two things will win tile war—mechanical equipment and morale. The British morale is wonderful, while her equipment is the sort of thing we dreamed about in the last war.”