THAT COMING INVASION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THAT COMING INVASION.

Whilst on all the vano is battle fronts there is more or less a scalemate —pending the great offensive —signs ar.e not wanting of coming activity at sea. We hear not only of wonderful new guns affixed to the German brttlcships during their sojourn in the Kiel Canal, hut even of n secret fleet whose power is to spread terror and dismay throughout our Navy—when it comes out. There is much virtue in that "when" —and we arc waiting its manifestations with a calm and in difference which must he a source of unmitigated astonishment to the Kaiser. For undoubtedly his various lie factories have been busy at work for months past preparing us for the coming 01 slaught. And vet we. wait calmly. Truth to tell, we are getting a little tired of this threatened invasion. If it i= really coming, I throw out to the Kaiser the reminder that the days are drawing out and the nights are shortening, and that every day's delay means an enormous advantage to Britain. And in naval warfare Britain wants no odds in her favour. Rightly or wrongly, she still considers that she is Mistress of the Seven Seas—and having had her war appetite whetted, slw> is eager for the fray. * # # • Before the war, the possi'ni'ity of a hostile invasion was a favourite top:c for romantic pens; but lately we have been too much preoccupied for such interesting speculations. Not that the subject has l>ecn absent lrom our thoughts. It has always been "on the cards." But with the rape of Belgium and the sufferings of France in our minds, we have had no time or inclination to dwell upon such portabilities?, although occasionally we have spoken and written of the "peril" of invasion. I confess I am not fond of the phrase. It seems to me to be false i;i its implications. I regard a possible German attempt at the invasion of our shores not as a disaster to be dreaded, but as a development to be desired. I wrote last week of the lure of Londtn, and 1 am not without hope that the Huns may be "drawn" to their certain doom; for with the defeat of any such mad project the war would be over. The insensate folly of the Kaiser would l)e finally unmasked, iiy the utter collapse of a cherished ambition the German people would be effectively disillusioned. In the eyes of the wcrld the Hun would be humbled, and the end would ba in sight.

It is in some respects unfortunate, therefore, that the invasion is a somewhat remote possibility. Still, the attempt may at any moment be made. The project is dear to the heart A the Hun. The prospect has Teen discussed V German officers of high standing in terms of wanton savagery, and by their subalterns in phrases of unprintable lechery. And, believe me, if ever the scheme is put in train, it will not be in cold blood, but in a hot gust of baffled fury ! I nued noi discuss the strategic possibilities. 'There are several alternative modes o( attack; each of them, of course, involving a direct challenge to our ocean :-i premaey, for in any case the attack would have to be made under cov-r of the German Fleet. And, therefore, before th Huns can carry the war, in however small a degree, on to British soil, they must make up their mind-' to lace the New Trafalgar. God -peed "the Day."

Xo o.ie outside the Bedlam ot tlie Central Empires, however, boLeves in tlio possibility of a successful invasion on any extended scale. It is, of conn-p, possible that a )V>\v transports mig:>-. elude the vigilance of our patrols an t effect a landing upon some portion of our eastern coast but that is tin Trorst that could happen, 'i et nnically, it would not be an " invasion " but a raid; still, its possibility is w >ftli con sidering. I know something of the arrangements made to meet such a contingency, and 1 betray no secret when T sav that they are overwhelming'? complete. Lord Kitchener has see.i to that, and Lord French is now at his right hand. And 1 say, without hesitation, that for a German force landing in this country there could bp but one military fate—annihilation i I verily believe that at the end of twelve hours not a man of them wruld remain at large. This is not mere "fatujiis optimism": the analogy of the unchecked air raids is not in point. The >cri! was not foreseen. Unforeseen, ;t \-as not provided against. A German ttempt at invasion by sea has Ion;

BRITAIN READY FOR THE GREAT "DAY. 5 ' By HORATIO BOTTOM!,KY (Editor of "Jclin Bull.") In the following article Mv. Bot(,oniley discusses the probability of an enemy raid upon our shores, and invites the German ships to "come on" —being satisfied that in this respect, at least, Great Britain is ready.

been anticipated; ;;nd for reasons into which I must not now enter, inticipatcd vividly. For that challenge at least we are ready to the last man and tiilast gun. I hope it won't "encourage the enemy" to know this. However it js true. Will he come? In case he does, I want a word or two with the Government. hi this supreme event there must lie no needless secrecy. There would lie no "military necessity" for it, and it could do nothing but harm. 1 know my countrymen, and I trust theni. T know that a German landing would bring out' their finest qualities. After twenty months of war the -nerve of the nation is unshaken; and it would not fail t Iho supreme test. The people are to be trusted, not fooled and tricked like frightened children who must not be "told." Already the excos.si.-e secrecy of the authorities lias been a source of varied mischief. That the patriotism of the nation has survived it is one of the wonders of th.e war. Hut in the event of an invasion such a policy might be disastrous. If ever a German force is landed, the newspapers should be permitted to tell the story of the combat from hour to hour, subject only to such slight restrictions as military prudence might imperatively require. And the nation will respond as one man. It will be a great "Day." • • * Some indignation has been e>pressed from time to time at the nature of the instructions issued by the War Office for the guidance of civilians in the event of the raid. Upon this point there is but one word to be said. The chief of war virtues is Discipline, and whatever Orders are issued by the Military Authority must be e! oerfully obeyed. The repulse of an ii.vading force is a job for soldiers; and the bellicose civilian who is itching to have a "smack" at the Huns should take time by the forelock ■ — and get into khaki.

For sooner than we think, ihe enemy in desperation may decide to stake all upon this last gambler's throw. Always remember that the rank and nle of the German people have not given up their dream of a successful invasion oi Great Britain. The sack of London is the favourite imaginative exercise of the Hunnish soldiery. To reduce Canterbtiry to the state of ltheims, Oxford to that of Louvain; to lay waste the counties of the coast, and to march threateningly upon tne capital, would be to attaiif the fullest luxury of Hate. I am inclined to think the attempt will bo made —but for the unlucky dupes of the mad Kaiser a cruel awakening will bo in store.

T hope it will come soon. T can imagine nothing more calculated to shorten the war. and to mitigate its dread toll of blood and treasure. Under the stress of actual invasion the patriotism of the nation would lie fused into white heat of martial fervour. The news that the vile Hun had actually set foot upon the hallowed soil of Britain would stir the imagination oi the most sluggish rvul i.erve th- 1 veriest poltroon to play the man. Even the "'conscientious objector" might be roused to action. Apart from a few lunatics, fit rather for asyii.ms than the Army, we should have in more of him. At last the mighty issues of this conflict would be realised ii. every corner of the land: and in the face of such an object lesson there would be no more need to preach the gospel of patriotism. Moreover, the isolation and capture of a German invading force, coupled as it inevitab'y would be, with a smashing defeat at the hands of the British Meet, would complete the collapse of the cnein,'-; plans, and carry the message of doom to the heart of the Central Empires It would be a fitting climax to the war. demonstrating to the world the imp 'once of German fury to assail the c.'-ukd <f Britain's inisiht.

And the sliort-livod effort is baffled and lion ton, the scales w l! hr.vo fallen from tho eyes of the tji rman ra«v?. They will know they nave boon fooled. And for the corrupt House of Hohenzollorn the hour of doom will have struck. Are they coming'" I.ct the;n conic! Wo are ready-we are eager. Woe to the enemy t'-at shall over dare to violate I've siMctny of our soil—it shall bo made tho richer bv hij blood! —HORATIO UOTTOMLKY.