BRITISH DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21178, 30 July 1940, Page 5

BRITISH DEFENCE

READY FOR INVADERS DETERMINED ARMY FIGHT TO LAST MAN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, July 29 In the event of invaders of Britain, under cover of mists, cutting through the protective screen of the Navy and Air Force, they inevitably will come face to face with an army which has been ordered to fight to the last man. There will be no question of retiring to a second line of defence. The countryside has been transformed and the entire coastline has become a modernised fortress. The invaders would be compelled to penetrate a thick curtain of heavy and light gunfire. There is an extraordinarily deep system of pill-boxes and other strong-points. There are also “stops,” strategically placed with a view to holding up any light tanks ; which might be landed. These “stops” are more impressive than anything seen in France. War correspondents lately in France who toured Britain’s defences from the beaches to far inland describe the transformation of carefree holiday resorts and quiet pastures into fortified zones. One correspondent says:— Hitler’s Zero Hour “The art of camouflage has been brought to final perfection in all the works completed in zestful anticipation of Hitler’s zero hour. “Defensive works not only entirely girdle Britain but criss-cross the length and breadth of the country, in which troops are both distributed and concentrated strategically, which would enable considerable forces to be rushed to every possible and even every improbable point of a German assault. “The defences consist of a bewildering series of concentric circles patterned in with mine fields, land-traps for enemy aeroplanes, and barriers on the roads to prevent the movement of any type of invader. “As we motored through perfect English landscapes, past flowerspangled meadows, and saw frequent guards, concrete ‘dragon’s teeth’ half across roads, numerous military camps in fields, new aerodromes and ‘archies’ pointing to the sky, we were increasingly impressed by the way in which war’s imprint scars England’s rural loveliness. Armed Men Replace Civilians “The population continues a game of general post, necessitated by the changing phases of the war. As quotas of the civilian community move out of the coastal war zones military units move in. They are largely exchanging houses, but as the tempo of call-ups increases elaborate billeting schemes will be essential. “At least 3,000,000 soldiers will need winter quarters—the largest number ever under arms in Britain. Hotels, public buildings and theatres will be commandeered as required.” Surveying Germany’s shipping capacity for the purpose of attempting to invade Britain, the Daily Telegraph’s naval correspondent says that, in spite of Nazi seizures of barges in Belgian and Dutch waters, there are not too many craft suitable for the sea crossing, although the Germans would be likely to take risks with material which professional sailors would prefer to discard.

However, says the correspondent, even if a large number of the craft failed to reach England, landings from a few ships might be deemed worth while in order to keep a great number of British soldiers occupied. Most Useful Craft

The correspondent points out that the most useful types of craft would be Belgian and Dutch Diesel-engined river vessels, which are capable of eight knots, and powerful steam ferry-boats—some of which are capable of carrying 30 motor-cars—also Dutch motor coastal boats. He mentions, also, the enormous Rhine and Maas river barges, some of which can take the contents of 300 10-ton coal waggons. These, however, must be towed, and he questions their suitability for the sea passage.