Evening star., 1939-11-17
By the Associated Press.

Tor war.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 17.-High British
military authorities expressed CON
viction" today that what they called
Germany's "indecisive tactics" on
the western front were the result
of disagreement between Adolf Hit
Ter and his general staff.
These authorities did not disclose
what information they had to sup
port this view, but said they con-
sidered it bolstered because Ger
many had not organized direct, hard
blows against Britain and France
which, they said, was the usual
German plan.
There were hints also of sharp
retaliation against any lombard
ment of British cities.
Nazi Plane Seen.
Asked what British policy would
be toward any bombing of open
cities or any use of gas, one source
referred queStioners to international
law and to provisions for retaliation
where the law is violated.
A German warplane flew today
over the Shetland Islands off the
Northern Scottish coast, scene Of a
Nazi air bombing Monday.
Alarms sounded in 13 towns over
a wide area also in Southwest Lam
caShire, Cheshire and North Wales
after plane flew over the region
An all-clear signal was given in a
few minutes, however.
The alarms constituted the first
air raid warnings W the war on the
west coast, and anti-aircraft guns
went into action in Cheshire.
Netherlands planes and anti
aircraft guns drove off foreign
aircraft sighted today at various
places along the coast going west
ward, dispatch from The Hague
said. Nationality of the planes
was not determined. None was
damaged)
British Planes in Pursuit.
Lancashire is a shipping and in
dustrial county, with Liverpool and
MANCHESTER its leading centers.
Across the River Mersey from Lam
cashire, in Cheshire but virtually a
part of Liverpool, is Birkenhead,
great shipping center with docks
and shipyards.
The press association said that
shortly after the all-clear signal was
given in one town three British pur-
suit planes sped after the craft.
In the German flight over the
1Shetlands, the air ministry said no
bombs were dropped.
The air ministry and ministry of
home security later issued COM
munique on the west coast incident,
identifying the raider as IAN enemy
aircraft, apparently Heinkel re-
connaisSance plane"
1t added:
"Anti-aircraft guns were in action
near Manchester and at Merseyside,
where British fighters went up and
drove away the enemy aircraft. No
bombs were dropped
10000 Needed for Home Guard.
The war office announced 10000
men were needed for home defense
battalions of the British Army.
The announcement was made as
recruiting opened to double the
strength of the women's auxiliary
territorial service.
Men between the ages of 35 and
so serve in the home battallons,
whose duties involve guarding vul-
nerable spots in Britain so that reg
ular troops may be released for more
active service.
Women of the auxiliary, which
will be increased from 10000 to
10000, serve as clerks, cooks, chauf-
feurs and in other capacities be-
hin dthe lines.
Battleship Raiders.
Germanys first stroke against
British shipping in the Indian Ocean
started naval experts guessing to-
day where the Nazi pocket battle
ships are rowing.
Sources here advanced the pos
sibility the 10,0OO-ton German pocket
battleShip Admiral Scheer sank the
706-ton British tanker Africa Shell
Wednesday off the coast of Mozam-
bique, Portuguese East Africa.
A Reuters british news agency
dispatch from Cape Town, South
f,-ir
was discounted by authorities there.
The Reuters report said the
tanker was sent to the bottom in
Portuguese territorial waters and
that some sources suggested the at
tacker might have been an armed
merchantmen of about 10000 tons.
British reports have not located
the Admiral Scheer since September
30, when the British steamer Glenn
ent was sunk off the coast of Brazil
about 4,500 miles from where the
Africa Shell went down-but it had
been considered likely here the Ger
man warship rounded Cape Horn
into the Pacific Ocean.
More Cruising Than Raiding.
The Admiral Scheer and the
Deutschland, another 10000 ton
Nazi pocket battleship, have been at
sea more than a month
The Deutschland was known to
have been off the coast of New
foundland October IA, five days after
she placed prize crew aboard the
United States Governmental owned
freighter City of Flint.