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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S Government

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.

SECRET.

C.0.S.(40)473(J.I.C.) (Also J.I.C.(40)125).

18TH JUNE. 1940.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

COPY NO.

EVACUATION FROM SOUTH COAST TOWNS.

Report by the Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee.

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166 473

(J.I.C.)

As instructed by the Chiefs of Staff at their

the Joint Intelligence meeting on the morning of 14th June+ Sub-Committee have had under consideration the question of whether, and to what extent, recent developments in France were likely to render it necessary to include the South Coast from Hythe to Southampton and Portsmouth, in the area from which partial evacuation should be carried out as a precaution against the danger of invasion,

2.

The question turns on the practicability of invasion by sea since the range of troop-carrying planes and bombers is such that purely air-borne invasion, as distinct from air-borne invasion carried out with a view to covering a sea-borne invasion, is as feasible inland as on any particular stretch of coast.

3.

Although efforts have been made to block Belgian and French Ports now in German hands, it appears from photographic reconnaissance, that only Dunkirk and Zeebrugge are unusable, and that the facilities of the remaining ports are fit for use by a small number of ships. The assembly of any large number of ships in these ports should however be easily detected by air reconnaissance, and furthermore, the passage of such ships through the Straits of Dover would be a hazardous operation due to our minefields and Naval and Air Forces.

4.

Any expedition from the North Coast of France would, for the time being, seem to be limited to one of small vessels, including probably tank-carrying pontoons. Embarkation would probably be from open beaches, but the assembly of even these small vessels could hardly fail to be observed by reconnaissance.

5.

There are two salient points regarding an

Its average speed would be expedition of this type. very low and it would be dependent for protection mainly on fighter and bomber aircraft, though small surface craft and submarines would give some assistance, slow speed would seem to make it probable that the enemy would select the shortest possible sea crossing so as to

+ 181st Meeting, Item 3.

-1-

The

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