CAB80-8 — Page 74

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Scandinavia.

31. The mobilisation of the Swedish Army appears to be about three- quarters completed. It is thought that the Army has been divided into two Army Corps, one in the north and one in the south. This organisation may have been adopted to meet the possibility of a war on two fronts. The Northern Army Corps is almost mobilised, and is reported to have a strength of 72,000 men. The mobilisation of the Southern Corps is in progress; it will only be some 25,000 strong, considerably weaker than the Northern Corps.

There is no official information of the mobilisation of the Norwegian Army. Reports state that reinforcements are being sent to the northern districts, and that a headquarters is being established at Tromso.

Italy.

32. According to the press, Signor Mussolini continues to receive periodical reports on Italian preparedness for war. In an interview at the end of January, he was informed of the state of frontier defences, and it seems from the presence of the Chief Engineer of the IVth Corps (Bolzano) that the frontier defences against Germany may have been under discussion. A press statement referred to the "advanced stage reached in the defence works on metropolitan territory." At another conference Signor Mussolini gave instructions for anti-aircraft weapons to be increased and for anti-aircraft militia personnel to be called up for training.

It is reported that the Italian War Ministry has produced an extensive armament programme to make good deficiencies revealed after the outbreak of war, but that the proposals have proved to be too ambitious in Italy's present economic condition. The 1940-41 estimates do not indicate that any extensive scheme of rearmament is likely to be financed in the near future, even if additional funds are provided from the extraordinary budget.

33. The rumour, emanating from Libya, of the impending return of some formations to Italy has found some corroboration from an independent source in Italy, but so far the movements of drafts and supplies do not show that the garrison is being reduced.

Spanish Morocco.

34. Reports indicate that trouble is expected from the Moors in the Spanish Protectorate. During the Civil War Colonel Beigbeder, then High Commis- sioner, pursued a very benevolent policy towards the Moors and distributed lavish subsidies amongst their leaders with a view to keeping them friendly to the Nationalist cause. The present High Commissioner, General Asensio, is, however, not disposed to give the Moors the same latitude and is introducing many irksome restrictions, besides discontinuing the subsidies.

Royal Air Force Operations.

Bomber Command.

AIR SITUATION.

35. Weather conditions during the week brought operations almost to a standstill. Many of the aerodromes were unserviceable owing to the bad state of the ground. The only operation which Bomber Command have undertaken is a sweep by six Wellingtons on the 1st February in the Western part of the North Sea. Visibility was extremely bad, and nothing of particular interest was seen.

Fighter Command.

36. Adverse weather conditions generally restricted air operations during the week. On the 3rd February, however, the German Air Force made a series of widespread attacks on East Coast shipping, and several fighter patrols were despatched. South of the Wash visibility was limited to 500 yards, and there were continual showers of snow and sleet, but, further north, flying conditions were better, and our fighters were able to operate more successfully. Six enemy aircraft were sighted, and of these, three (all Heinkel 111) were shot down (one on land near Whitby and two in the sea off Tynemouth and north of Blyth respectively) and a fourth was severely damaged.

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