The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1940 BRITAIN READY FOR ATTACK

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21155, 3 July 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1940 BRITAIN READY FOR ATTACK

w ith a spirit reminiscent of other years Britain is awaiting the onslaught of the Germans which is generally expected soon. There seemed to be a possibility that the Nazi tide might be diverted to the east by developments in the Balkans and Russia before Hitler was ready to attempt an invasion of Britain, but whether the possibility still exists or not, the British people are ready to make an attempted invasion the most costly undertaking in Germany’s violent history. Authorities in Britain are unanimous that the country must be prepared to defend itself at any moment, while the Nazis themselves are openly boasting of what they intend to do in this the most important campaign of the war. They are busily disarming the French, Dutch and Belgian people as a necessary preliminary, and that process has apparently reached an advanced stage. Germany is taking an enormous risk, and the English Channel may shortly be the graveyard of her hopes of dominating the world. Others before Hitler have laid plans for the invasion of England which in theory have seemed foolproof, but they have all failed. The common opinion is that Hitler relies mainly on the strength of his Air Force for success. The nightly raids on the British Isles cannot be regarded as a real part of the offensive, excepting that they have been made for the purposes of spying out the land and terrorising the British people. They have signally failed to cause panic in Britain and have actually had the reverse effect. Little useful information could have been gained, since the British defences have compelled raiding aeroplanes to fly at a very high altitude and in darkness. For those reasons it has been impossible for the British Air Force to inflict very heavy losses upon them. For similar reasons it must be expected that German bombers will cause damage and casualties when the attack begins in earnest. But if German planes are used as a screen and protection for an invading force they must come within reach of British fighters. Britain’s confidence in her ability to smash the invaders no longer springs from ignorance. Germany has disclosed that her power is great, and many if net all of her methods are now public property. Britain knows of the several strategems that might be employed in an invasion and has prepared to meet them. And while Germany prepares for the attack she cannot fail to be uneasy about the events in the east and south-east of Europe. Germany is no longer a consolidated military unit with a ring of steel facing outward from the fatherland. She has her forces scattered far and wide over Europe. A serious reverse in the east might easily bring disaster in the west and cause the collapse inwards of her widely deployed armies. Occupation of the Channel Islands hard on the heels of the evacuated British people has brought the Germans a step nearer England, but British authorities are confident that this is no worthwhile strategic gain for the Nazis. It might, of course, be asked why the British Navy did not prevent the occupation, but that is a matter that will probably be explained in good time. The evacuation of the Channel Islands caused no great surprise in view of the fact that they are only a few miles from the continental coast and offered a concentrated target for enemy bombers. The islands were clearly untenable and the evacuation has saved the people from needless -slaughter.