TWO BIG HURDLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 28, 3 February 1941, Page 8

TWO BIG HURDLES

INVASION OF BRITAIN

TRANSPORT & RESISTANCE

ON LAND

LONDON, February 2

Discussing the possible invasion- of Britain, a London commentator today said jthat the freedom from night bombing which Britain had enjoyed for the past ten or 12 days might be a lull before an invasion attempt. What were the Germans' chances? It would be criminal and foolish and irresponsible not to recognise that the Germans enjoyed great advantages for such a project. It would be even more foolish to be frightened by those advantages. .

First, he said, the Germans had to overcome the gigantic difficulties of transport. It would be useless to send a few troops. To land 100,000 men within an hour they would require about 4000 troop-carrying planes, while to land 250,000 in the same period they would require some 10,000 planes. If 250,000 men came by sea in barges carrying 100 men each, 2500 small craft would be needed, and they: could not cross the channel at Dover, where it was narrowest, in much less than two and a half hours. Heavy equipment, tanks, stores, and supplies for such a force would absorb another large fleet. Transport was the first hurdle the Germans must take successfully. British resistance was the second' hurdle.

"We shall fight to begin with in the ah%" said the speaker. "The Royal Air Force is certainly not weaker than it' was last autumn when it sent the German planes crashing in hundreds and drove the survivors back across the Channel. Nevertheless, the number of planes the Germans must throw in will be so vast that every machine sent ;to us from across the Atlantic will play a vital part in striking this first blow at the would-be invader; The Royal Navy will fight on and under the sea. We shall fight on land—if the Germans get here. Including the Home Guard, about 4,000,000 men thoroughly, trained and well equipped stand ready in this island to meet and destroy any invaders."