INVASION DANGERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1940, Page 8

INVASION DANGERS

SWEDISH EXPERT’S ESTIMATE. [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, September 19. The military correspondent of a leading Stockholm newspaper states that a German invasion of Britain would be the most dangerous and most desperate enterprise ever undertaken in history, if it were undertaken before the British power in the air was broken. Britain’s air defences had so far been neither broken nor weakened. It was not certain, he said, whether Germany, had yet thrown the whole of her air strength into the battle, although one German expert said recently that Germany had reached the top of her effort. The issue could be decided in the air only if Germany coulc] wreck British industry, including the aircraft industry, and if the wear and tear on British machines were greater than on German machines. Meantime, Germany was continuing her air'attack, leaving the question of invasion unanswered for the present. The writer added a warning that invasion could not be regarded as impossible during the late Autumn, as storms did not rage every day. The invasion might happen sooner than people expected. He expressed the opinion that the Luftwaffe has failed to achieve the main purpose of the raids because its bombs have not disorganised London’s communications. Thus supplies and reinforcements can still be sent to areas where the Germans planned to invade.

BRITAIN’S DEADLY BLOWS. RUGBY, September 20. “I believe that if we could assemble all the evidence, it would be proved that we have struck deadlier 1 blows, both at Germany’s war machine and the morale of the German people, than Goering’s Air Force has been able to strike at us,” says Mr. John Marchbhnk, leader of 410,000 railwaymen, in the current issue of his union journal. “The shattering attacks we have made on Naiti concentrations, in preparation for a descent on our shores, definitely disorganised the Nazi invasion plan. We are not as a nation cowering helpless and defenceless under assault. We are fighting back with ever-growing power behind our counterstrokes, and with ever-expanding resources. The watchword is ‘Carry on.’ ” BRITAIN’S VICTORY PROSPECTS. WASHINGTON, September 19. Mr Stimson (War Secretary) at a Press conference, said that the War Department’s advices on Britain’s chances of victory were much more optimistic now than they were six weeks ago. TO AyERT BOREDOM. RUGBY, September 20. i Mr Eden described the plans for the welfare during the Winter of the vast army quartered in Britain, while it waited to fight the offensive battles which lay ahead. This programme would include the welfare of foreign contingents in Britain. The Army would be doing hard, active training, and the general objective was to make sure that, in its leisure hours, it had comforts and distractions. The Army Education Corps was' being increased, with 7 a view to a morevigorous attack upon boredom, and to stimulate thought, will, and imagination. Entertainments were being organised on a large scale, including drama; vaudeville, cinema, and radio. Local hospitality was being arranged, and a very wide organisation had been built up for the provision of personal comforts.