INVASION OF BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1941, Page 5

INVASION OF BRITAIN

MAY BE ATTEMPTED BY NAZIS Following on Failure to Gain Decision in Russia STORIES OF PREPARATIONS ON VAST SCALE MANUFACTURE OF GLIDERS AND PARACHUTES LONDON, November 12. “The Times’’ correspondent on the German frontier says that a statement by the Wilhelmstrasse that most unfavourable weather is turning the whole of the Russian front into mud, especially in the central sector, amounts to a tacit admission that, after all, a serious winter campaign is impracticable. ‘‘All signs are suggesting that the last great German offensive against Russia, which was proclaimed by Hitler on October 4, is really over without having attained the chief objectives,” the correspondent says. “The German High Command’s chief concern now is to maintain the appearnce of front-line strength while the whole of Germany’s armies in Russia are reorganised and redistributed.” “The Times” correspondent in Stockholm declares that the winter comforts and, particularly, sheltered quarters, appear to be the present chief driving force behind the German High Command. According to trustworthy information from Berlin, he says, some units are already being sent home.

DESPERATE NECESSITY “Berliners appear to be convinced that the onslaught against Britain must be renewed in spite of the lack of completion of Hitler’s Eastern programme,” says this correspondent. "Indeed, operations in the West, even if most desperate, have become most imperative, because with successes in Russia dis-, appointingly hanging fire any general hold-up of operations would be likely to jeopardise calamitously the whole Nazi authority. "The German talk of an invasion is backed by preparations on a gigantic scale, indicating an unprecedently great air-borne attempt, largely by gliders, of which it is reported production has recently attained six figures. Each glider is capable of carrying five tons towed across the sea by Junkers. It is also common knowledge that the whole of the natural and artificial silk production has been commandeered, it is believed for parachutes, the output of which is also tremendous, far exceeding replacement necessities. “Many German specialists doubt whether an invasion of Britain would succeed, but all agree with relish that, whatever the cost to Germany, it would be a clamity for England; as soon as the parachutists established bridgeheads hordes of air-borne troops would follow, and even if the attempt failed ultimately, England, as England, would perish too.”