1941-04-21 — Page 8

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THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 21, 1941.

HITLER MAY CHANCE NAZI INVASION

FOR THE SECOND TIME in six months Britain is threatened with invasion. Last September many people in Britain were inclined to doubt whether an attempt would be made. They regarded the threat as more of the kite-flying for which Germany is notorious. But this time the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers, as well as responsible mem- bers of all three Services, have given serious warn- ings to the nation to be on its guard.

MOVE TO FORESTALL NAZI DRIVE

SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"

The sending of Brit ish troops to Basra, in Iraq, is interpreted in London as a move to forestall an anticipat- ed

German move through Turkey the Iraqi oil-fields. International News Service.

to

Even if Hitler never gambles his all on an effort to achieve his cherished ambition of landing Ger- man troops on British soil, there are enough indica tions of careful and large-scale preparations to jus- tify the Government, the Royal Navy, the Army the Royal Air Force, and every member of the public taking every reasonable precaution. On so momen- tous a matter it will be better to have taken precau- |, einforcements being rushed up. tions proved unnecessary than to be caught napping by unreadiness to meet every possible enemy move. were attempted at night it is pro- bable that

each trump carrying macline would also tuw two or three gliders, which would be de- tached when near the east and allowed to land where they could

Loking back on the period of duly lange-sende au attacks last summunen, it is clear that they were the prelude to an attempted unas -

In spite of the constant attack, the RAP Bomber and Coastal Command. on the piva do bases and the damage they have caused, the Germans doubtless still por very Sufficient seaworthy shups and Jurgens to muny an invading torre ¦ between the Confitent and Brit

ないよ Is it unlikely that o her

|

!

The presence of parachute treopā

on our afrodromes would serious ly impede the British #ghters, for. they wild have to make longe Journeys back to aerodromes to - ther away to refuel and rear:

In East Anglia ?

Where is the most likely place for an invasion" Though the tre quent reports of German are..ft

over East Angha mity prov.dhe

1

writ toted at the "back end of the Baltic could be mixed up by maght and the di K Norway may hide somet intended as i man-by-steprise for an unwany land „ble fu fake the chance Birt contoubt converge on Beton from Prudence. Theretesse, ditate notant attacks on

aerodromes many different points, some Boa un keeping watria!ilters.

atic on the coastal detence areas the Channel pots of France, Meine not only tuled for weaken om ale from the Bay of Biscay, othe

from Holland and Belg.um. sti tesa bume but made such glave in-

ads on the bomber and fighter others from Norway and the Balta strength of the Gem Au Preet is possible that surmal ansons that Hitler war Turved to postpone | landings would be find at different a mot abandon the project Now | pralds, so as to split up the debite tu fine weather to evening aga n

cam beber Jenee of the RAF 1 It SPRI bakely the

Eus. landing an Thy Ja AL estations peanut the sind at-

then tr

The sta

the it

JURET Had the Luftwaffe vergeded clue. the Germans are hardl PR mastering the RAF Figher, likely to put all their eggs in site. Cormmand Hitler would have been busket Sen craft would 1:0

No doubt all three et The British armed jorres have detailed plan. for detrating it hostile move of this kind. 10 is difficult to believe, that any Gruman movement on a large scale could escape the notes of the Royal Navy o the K Coastal Command y of nananer anerati

THA

of

MU U

, |

teangal wilt das made to Cruzany would be a tempted at the sam

hu every

ves the pe RAFREW stronto, thank pat ly to Amrixan „od

I the main attack came from the east the whole of the area between the Wash and th mouth 01 the Thames, as weli as Kent and the coastal regions of adjoining counties, would pro. bably the largest scale air the world has ever

Even the Germans must know that if they try to invade Britain they are taking on one of the most dangerous and difficult ad ventures in history. Such an

Few Hours Notice effort must entail terrible losses in men and material. But we

have the Battle

After the failure to dyseat our France to show that Hitler would lighter force last RMT it dif-

ferent tactic may

be tried this not be deterred by such a prospect.

fighting There is unlikely to be at To conquer France he willingly, Ume almost gladly. accepted a high long period of daylight bombing rate of casualties among his dive attacks before the enemy armada bombers, because he saw that this sails. would prevent the heavy losses which a long land campaign would entail.

Fine Weather Effort

Many experts believe that we shall not get more than a few hours notice of German inten- tions. As they 60e it, the pre- Fiminary will be a night of non- stop bombing of the areas where the landing is to be effected - or, at any rate, attempted.

known.

see

Lo

Dunkirk would be like a small engagement by comparison. Tire Germaus would certainly hurl into the fray every fighter and bomber they could make airworthy in ume. To get their troops on shore they would have wm a local air Some experts in Britain beheve

superiority: they must also com- mand the air over their ships and that Hitler must regard the chan-

barges during ces of a successful sea invasion as

that vital period" from dawn onwards while the so slight that he would attempt.

Such a at the start at any rate, to land all

witness concentrated landing was in progress. his troops from the air. If they bombing such as that carried out scheme may seem like a night-

in Holland and France succeeded in getting

and at- mare, but experts believe that it foothold and damaging our coastal tempted on Coventry and South-must be taken seriously. Though defences, airfields, and aircraft, jampton. Communications will al- it would bristle with serious dif- reinforcements could follow in most certainly be a special ob-ficulties, and the preparatory work ships and barges. Germany cer-jective, for the enemy must try to on the other side would be en-

cut off the prospective

a secure

We may

battle ormous, the Germans are excellent tainly has large numbers of Jun-

An attempted invas- kers Ju 52 troop-carriers, cachzone; to isolate the troops in that organisers.

do-or- capable of carrying 20 fully arm-

area who are not killed by the ion of Britain would be a ed men. She is also

bombing. Both fighter and bomb. die effort, and for that reason the reputed to

er aerodromes have machines equipped to bear

are another ob-possibility of poison gas should vious target. light tanks slung between the un-

In order to put them not be ruled out. out of action the Germans might dercarriage.

air invasion

try to land troops from the air

A Two-Sided Picture Qu OF near them. During the

If the

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hours of darkness it would be If last year the enemy under- their task to wipe out the aero- estimated our fighter strength, drome defences and defenders they are not likely to do so again and to make all the aircraft unfit after the grim lesson they were for service,

given during August and Septem- ber. They know that the Spitfires, Then, at dawn, the main attempt Hurricanes, and Deflants which would be made. Under cover of beat the Luftwaffe six months ago durkness all the barges and ships have been improved; that we now would have been moved out so as have the Whirlwinds and Torna- to be within striking distance of does, modern machines with land with the Arst grey streaks capabilities of which they are of clawn. Simultaneously every ignorant. They know, too, thal bomber and fighter hich the we have received from America Luftwaffe can muster would be such fighter aircraft as the Curtiss launched from France and the Tomahawk; while the nightly ex- Low Countries according to a ploits of the RA.F. over Germany time-table worked out to the last must have convinced the leaders second. No doubt feints would | of the Reich that our bomber be made in order to try to mis-force is considerably stronger, lead our fighters, bombers, and That is one side of the picture. warships, but the main assault On the other side is the assurance would be launched against the that the Germans have made good area, or areas, where landings use of the winter monu:s. They. were to be tried. While some of have evolved now fighters and the German fighters afforded sucli ' sombers; the aircraft they em- protection as they could to the i ployed last year have been im- bomber squadrons bent on destroy-proved. Because, there are ma- ing our constal defences strong chines on both sides which have formations would be needed to not been tested out in combat the tackle the R.A.F. bombers and the invasion would be a gamble, but it Royal Navy sent to attack the is something on which Hitler has barges and ships. More bombers set his heart. The wise course for would continue the effort to iso- us, therefore, is to be prepared for* late the battle area and prevent i whatever may come.