NAZIS HESITATE

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

NAZIS HESITATE

INVASION OF BRITAIN GERMAN LEADERS DISAGREE FEARS IN ITALY (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyrlitot) LONDON, July 29 Circumstantial evidence accumulates to support the belief that there is disagreement among the German High Command about the advisability of invading Britain. There is also evidence to suggest that Italy, fearful that because Germany will not attempt an invasion of Britain the latter will be freer to deal with tasks other than the driving off of an invading army, expects Britain to begin concentrated aerial, and possibly naval, attacks against Italy. British military commentators believe there are no longer grounds for doubting that a division of opinion exists among the German leaders on the subject of an invasion of Britain. Originally, it appears, Reich-Mar-shal Goering, believing that the air force could effectively protect an invading sea-borne army in small boats, opposed the statements of General von Keitel, Chief of the Armed Forces, and Grand Admiral Raeder, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, that, on naval and military grounds, the absence of a strong navy made invasion by the Army impractical. Sea Power Alone Neutral sources state that Goering has been persuaded to the viewpoint of von Keitel and Raeder, that power on the sea surface alone guarantees i safe maritime crossing. The German Foreign Minister, von Ribbentrop, is reported to have urged that whatever plan is to be decided upon should be formulated before the I United States comes into the war. This has strengthened the hands ! of those of the Nazi heirarchy who urge against an invasion of Britain, since they argue that nothing would more surely bring in the United States than a direct invasion of Britain. Authoritative quarters in London, describing conditions in the Middle East, point out that the policy of the British Commander-in-Chief in Egypt must be one of “ active de- , fence.” Military commentators, however, suggest that if the coming weeks I prove—and Hitler has only eight I weeks more of ideal war weather—- ] that the line of steel, concrete, guns, j and men girdling Britain has dissuaded the Germans from trying an invasion, then Britain should begin to take the offensive against Italy in the Mediterranean more determinedly. Weakness of Italy The Manchester Guardian, in a leading article supporting this view', states: “ The double enemy must be made to bend where he is weakest, and that place is Italy. We can mak * no offensive on the Continent this year, and just because wars are only won by the offensive spirit we must balance our defensive here by striking Italy hard in the Mediterranean, even if active defence remains the rule in Africa.”