TRAPS & DEVICES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21205, 30 August 1940, Page 8

TRAPS & DEVICES

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN SAID TO BE TERRIFYING i i PLANS FOR OFFENSIVE | (United Prees Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 30, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 29 Journalists who have taken a tour of the coastal defences under the Southern Command are most enthusiastic about the strength and ingenuity of what they saw. The entire southern coastline abounds with every conceivable, form of trap for invaders. One device, the nature of which is a close secret, is described as terrifying. The news agency says the latest | of many ingenious methods of con- , fusing an invader, installed in the far west, “gives the toe of England ’ the kick of a mule.” The Times says that behind the ; defences there is an army on wheels i which can travel 70 miles daily. It j is now preparing for an offensive. | Men are being withdrawn behind j fortified beaches and trained for i mobile warfare, as automatic arms 1 replace rifles. Beat Enemy at Own Game Lieutenant - General Auchinieck, I who led the Narvik expedition, declared: “We will improve on the German methods and beat the enemy at his own game.” Such an astonishing amount of de- j fensive work has been achieved since mid-June that the enemy will find it just as forbidding a task to land | troops on the south coast as in any j other part of the country. There are very few stretches of sand not covered by guns, yrire and other unpleasant surprises. There are few useful beaches on the Atlantic seaboard. The great seas themselves offer protection. Many divisions in the area fought with the British Expeditionary Force, and their experience against German tanks and whistling bombs is proving invaluable to the younger recruits.