TROOPS IN BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 5

TROOPS IN BRITAIN

SUBSTANTIAL INFLUX EARLY MOVES INDICATED LONDON. Aug. 10. Mr Churchill’s prediction that there would be heavy fighting in the Mediterranean and elsewhere before the leaves of autumn had fallen has been realised in the Mediterranean, says Reuter’s military writer. There is. reason to believe that while the operation may be extended there, it will also be true of “elsewhere” in the near future —as our Russian allies hope and our Axis enemies fear. When and where the blow will fall can only be surmised, but there are a number of corroborative indications from which it is possible to draw conclusions not far removed from the truth. Thus, as already announced, there has been the arrival in Britain of substantial American and Canadian reinforcements, all fully trained.« The American Air Force’s bases in Britain have been greatly increased, and there is a noticeable increase in rail traffic which is not accounted for by holiday traffic.

Enemy planes cannot have overlooked the sudden growth of military encampments in certain vital regions in Britain, which have sprung up like so many vast fields of camouflaged mushrooms. There has also been a noticeable influx of senior officers from other theatres of war. There are indications that the populations of certain areas are expecting the imposition of restrictions similar to those, recently enforced in South Wales. Reports indicate that schools and other largo buildings are being requisitioned in these areas.

The air traffic between Britain and Sweden has been interrupted for some time past for various reasons, among which security is playing a large part. It may be suggested in connection with Sweden that the Swedish Government appears to have acted very timorously in denouncing the arrangement allowing the transit of German troops to Norway. Finally, there is the season. The harvest will soon be gathered in Britain, and one generally expects periods of fine and settled weather. It is clear from these elements that there is something brewing, but there is nothing concerning how or whether the thrust will be from the north, from the east, or from the south. It may be directed against any part of Germany’s exposed coast line from the North Cape to the Bay of Biscay.