The Threatened Invasion

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 22, 27 September 1940, Page 2

The Threatened Invasion

What of it!

The possibilities of an attempted invasion of the British Isles are the subject of much speculation from many sources, and the trend of recent events-no doubt justify these conclusions. . , \ . The familiar “terror” tactics of the enemy by repeated aerial warfare upon the civil populace of London, the bombing of Buckingham Palace and the threatening of our sovereignty are calculated to demoralise the inhabitants, and the reported concentration of troops, barges and other impedimenta accompanied by the usual lying propaganda suggest many “interesting possibilities.” - We have experienced the long-range guns from across the Channel and their effectiveness has been nullified by heavier guns from ,our shores and the constant vigilance and bombing of our Air Force. Goering,- too, is reported to have personally directed and witnessed the aerial offensive from across the Channel, the results of which have been negatived by the gallant efforts of the Royal Air Force, anti-aircraft defences and the cool determination of the people. Even Goebels’ poisonous lies reveal the weakness and abject failure of the initial preliminaries. Compare such tactics with the methodically planned destruction of military objectives throughout enemy territory, the vital sources of Germany’s war machine, and the practical results are obvious. The effect of these preliminaries has stirred the British nation with courage and resoluteness in defence of the Empire and a determination to inflict a crushing defeat upon a .ruthless enemy. - . ~ It may well be that any attempt of invasion of the British Isles will hasten the virtual outcome of the war, for such an undertaking will unquestionably reveal the strategy and expose the entire strength of the German military machine in •conflict with the might of Great Britain’s concentrated, defences in a new “no-man’s land.” Such a hazardous undertaking will mean losses of an inconceivable magnitude to the invader and serously affect his vulnerability to a counter offensive. Then, let it come, we are now prepared and confident of the result. The magnitude of the task is best known to those in possession, and it can reasonably be assumed that all possibilities have been thoroughly explored and that any developments or' eventualities will be well taken care of in keeping with the highest traditions of the British race. Try and visualise the transport, on sea, of man power (ineffective in transit and presenting a concentrated and exposed target) and the enormous shipping facilities required to bring the necessary equipment (also static pro-tem) and the efforts required to establish and maintain communication immediately. Remember that it took at least three days to transport a small portion of the now British Army to France twelve months ago under the protection of the combined British and French fleets, and later still over 700 craft were engaged in the evacuation, of troops only, from Dunkirk. The continual vigilance of the R.A.F. and patrol boats against the element of surprise and the proven superiority •of the Navy, Air Force and Army continually harrasing the enemy along the coastline at the projected starting points will test the morale of the invading forces in attempting to overcome the hazards of the sea or land against the persistent creeping barrages and cross-section of unremitting fire from the combined efforts of the Navy, Army and Air Force. Internally, too, there is the vast army of the Home Guard and fortifications calculated to overcome any surprise element, and behind all this is the unconquerable spirit of the British Empire.