INVASION OF EIRE

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 8

INVASION OF EIRE

POLICY TO COMBAT DANGER Military advisers to the Government of Eire have told Mr do Valera and his Defence Minister that if Britain is ever hard pressed by an enemy, as she was in 1917, it is conceivable that German bombers, troop-carrying aeroplanes, and warship operating from Spain might attempt to land 10,000 men in Eire, reported the Dublin correspondent of the ‘ News Chronicle.’ Ports and aerodromes of Corunna. Vigo, and Ferrol (chief Spanish naval base on the Atlantic) are only 600 miles from Southern Ireland. Military experts say the object of such an invasion would be to seize a port, such as Wexford, as a base for attacking England from the rear.

An invading force, the experts believe, would attempt to use the Russian technique of landing men, guns, and materials by parachute from aeroplanes. This force could cover landings of further troops, munitions, and supplies; and the captured territory could be used as a base for subsequent air raids on both Irish and English ports, with a view to closing the doors to Britain’s war-time route for food supplies. The experts make it clear that such an invasion would only be possible f the British Fleet was markedly weakened by submarine and air attack. Another reason why the Eire Government is acutely conscious of the dangers of invasion is that, under tho Anglo-Irish Treaty of last year, the British have completed the evacuation of the naval, air, and military bases of Southern Ireland. Further, the Eireann authorities fear that the British Air Force will be so busy defending England from raids that it will not be able to spare a sufficient number of machines to intercept raiders from Spain in the Atlantic and Bay. of Biscay. The Eireann Government’s new defence policy is primarily designed to combat these dangers. Permanent garrisons are being established in the ports evacuated by the British. An extra £5,500,000 is being spent on defence, of which £1,000,000 is being devoted to anti-aircraft guns and £1.000,000 spent on fighter aircraft. The army is to be increased to 30,000 and turned into a highly mobile force.

Mr de Valera has announced that he intends at all costs to maintain tradebetween Eire and England in the event of a war.