INVASION THREAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24345, 9 July 1940, Page 8

INVASION THREAT

ONSLAUGHT AWAITED NAZIS PRESSED FOR TIME DIFFICULTIES OF TASK CONFIDENCE IN BRITAIN The difficulties facing Germany in her projected Invasion of Britain and the confidence which is reposed in the ability of the Old Land to repel the attack formed the subject of a broadcast from Daventry last night by a senior officer of the General Staff Germany fears nothing more than a long war, he said, because there is certain to be a severe shortage of food in Europe this winter. A policy of “ guns before butler,’ - which has. been followed by Germany, will inevitably produce that result, and it has already been produced in those countries now under the Nazi heel. Hitler has promised his people that the war will be over by August 15. and as we arc now his only . enemy that means that Britain will have to be conquered by that date. If it is not. the blind faith of the German people in the invincibility of the Fuhrer will be rudely shaken. Expected in Near Future It seems likely, the officer said, that circumstances will therefore compel Hitler to attempt the invasion of this country in the near future. So far as invasion by sea is concerned, it is .of interest to note that 20 good-sized ships are required to transport one division of 15,000 men. A tremendous number of ships will, therefore, be needed for the enterprise. Notwithstanding the difficulties with which they are faced, the Germans have the ships, and they are probably making every preparation to use'them.' Every man. every ship and every weapon will be concentrated on the one task—the invasion of this country. We may expect the attempt to be made bv troopships accompanied hv submarines and fast motor boats, and by the complete air force at the command of the enemy. Everything will be concentrated on this one venture, since if Hitler should fan he will know he has lost the war The despatch ,of the German Expeditionary Force, the officer said, will be accompanied by the heavy bombing of these islands and by the landing of parachutists and men from troopcarrying olanes in the interior. There will be noise and everything will be done to create confusion, to cause panic, to destroy our communications and to immobilise our troops so that they cannot move to the threatened point. Tanks and armoured craft of various kinds will be included in the equipment of the invaders, and our beaches will be attacked. Problem of Supply Moreover, if the German Army is tp be maintained once it has gained a footing on our shores, a port will have to be captured so that the cargohandling gear may be used ’for the landing of the guns, stores, and. equipment that will be required. Raids may be expected at several places’, so that at the weakest of these a bridgehead may be established behind which She army may be landed. It is possible that one of the main attempts may be made in Ireland so that Britain can be attacked from the south and west as well as the east, but even that would not do away with the difficulties of maintaining an invading force. Meeting the Attack From the British point of view, the officer asked, how are we going to meet this attack? We have nearly 1,500,000 men : under arms, a stronger force than we have ever had before in this country, and many of them have already h'ad experience of modern warfare. They have learned many things in France. They have learned, for instance, that the German theory of invincibility is a myth, and that The German soldier under •equal conditions cannot stand up to the British soldier. Our troops, however, will not sit down to wait to be attacked: they are only too keen to take up the offensive themselves. In France they were outmanoeuvred. but they were never defeated. We have also the dominion troops and the Local Volunteer Defence Corps, all of them veterans of the last war. ■ - ,• We have also a greatly superior navy, and thirdly our Air Force is stronger to-day than it was on May 10 when the German attack was launched, and. our pilots have proved over and over again that they are the masters of the Germans. Cities Barricaded Though it is obviously not possible to' describe the various methods and means of defence that have been adopted, said the officer, the authorities'have not been'idle. Those of you from overseas who have visited London would be surprised by the barbed wire, barricades: and blockhouses to be seen everywhere in this city and in every city and town all over the country.. , ' - - , . I have described ‘ the defences by which the attack is to be met, the officer added, but it should be remembered that the German invasion, if it comes, will be launched with utter ruthlessness and organised with extreme efficiency. It will not be repelled without hard fighting. There are difficulties ahead. We realise that well enough. We shall require all our energy, courage, and strength, but when one talks to the people and to the troops that one meets one can have nothing but confidence. Wc shall win this war.