INVASION PREPARATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23688, 23 September 1940, Page 5

INVASION PREPARATIONS

GERMAN LEADERS' PLANS THOUSANDS OF BOATS AND PLANES / HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE IN PRACTICE MANOVRES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, September 21. The Scripps Howards foreign editor, Mr William Philip Simms has published a letter received from an unnamed Norwegian shipping magnate describing Germany’s recent plans to invade England, in which he asserted that Hitler was reputed to be willing to sacrifice 80 per cent, of the attacking force for the purpose of establishing a bridgehead. He said the Germans had requisitioned 10,000 Norwegian and other bottoms, the motors of which they maintained in immaculate repair. They installed wheels in the bows of boats to enable them to be driven ashore at full speed, carrying 35 men. Each German would wear British uniform. The Germans plan to approach the British Isles from all directions whenever the weather is foggy, concurrently with 11,000 aeroplanes. The Germans calculated that the invasion would be successful if 20 per cent, of the attackers landed, although they anticipated that 50 per cent, would succeed. The vice-president of the Armco International Corporation, Mr Robert Solberg, who had returned from France, declared that the Germans had not attempted an invasion of Britain, but had suffered heavy losses of life from manoeuvres in the Channel preparatory to an attempt' being made. Barges were sent two miles to sea, and then returned to practice landings on the French coast. British planes and submarines were aware of this, and waited for the barges. Thousands of Germans lost.

Mr Solberg was recently at a French port where bodies of Germans were washed up every day, A Dutch lieutenant, Carl Ter Weele, said that there were many German invasion exercises off the Netherlands coast, and many lives were lost as 1 the result of advance information reaching the British. Some refused to take part in the exercises, and were sent back to Germany with their hands tied.

AIR LOSSES

GERMANY'S BIG DEBIT FOUR THOUSAND mark LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) The Germans in the week ended midnight on September 20 lost 280 planes. Britain lost 69, including 12 bombers over Germany and occuped areas. Italy lost 11. The total losses during the war are now: — German 4,385 British 1,313 Italian 197 a®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®

HEAVY TOLL AMONG GERMAHS

DECLINING ENTHUSIASM REPORTED STOCKHOLM, September 22. (Received September 23, at 1.40 p.m.) British submarines are taking toll of German experimental exercises at embarkation, and have been responsible for many German bodies being washed up on the beaches. The R.A.F. is bombing heavilyladen craft assembled for invasion, and has certainly claimed many lives. . . Travellers and seamen arriving from Germany increasingly and persistently report effects of the R.A.F. night raids, especially on the temper of the Germans, who are increasingly impatient. Enthusiasm is said to be declining, even among the troops in Belgium and Holland The belief is growing that the German army has bitten off more than it can chew. BEHAVIOUR OF LONDONERS JAPANESE OFFICIAL’S TRIBUTE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11.40 a.m.) The Japanese newspaper ‘ Nichi Nichi Shimbun ’ publishes a despatch from its Berlin correspondent giving an account of a telephone conversation lie had with Mr Okamoto, who had been Counsellor to the Japanese Embassy in London. The latter was speaking from Madrid. Mr Okamoto said Japanese residents in London were well and cheerful. He reported that there were no signs of any intention on the Government’s part to move away from London. The London people were calm, and the trains and buses were running as usual. SHELLS ON* DDVER LONG RANGE GUNS IN ACTION LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) German long-range guns twice shelled Dover this morning.