Evening star., 1940-06-20
Navy Is Key to Britoin's Fate
Germon Invasion Likely to Fail
If Fleet Holds Up Eliot Soys

excellent and easily recognizable tar
gets. While strong anti-aircraft
defense might be provided for the
principal ports, the question of am
munition supply In long struggle
might be vital.
Fleet Bases Endangered,
The danger to the British feet
from injury to its bases is very grave.
The chief fleet bases now are Chat
ham and Rosyth, both on the all
but-useless East Coast; Portsmouth
and Devonport. on the Channel and
under the shadow Of German wings,
and Milford Haven on the West
Coast. until lately base Of no great
importance or equipment. The con-
centration Of defense measures at
Portsmouth and Devonport may do
a great deal to preserve the install
lations, but these can hardly be con-
sidered as useful and free bases for
the British feet or as places in which
1t would be found advisable to con-
centrate any number Of valuable
wsrships.
Relative to the invasion of Brit
ain: This, if attempted, probably
would begin by number of small
thrusts at different coastal points
with the idea of feeling out the
British defenses and creating con-
fusion and distraction. Then would
follow heavy concentration of air
bombing at the selected point, and
along all roads and railways lead
ing to it. coupled with the drop
ping Of parachutists and the use Of
transport-planes with specially
equipped detachments. Finally. un-
der cover of heavy air lombard
ment, would come the crossing IT.
self-perhaps at the Strait of Dover.
Big Chance for Failure.
But when all is said and done,
such an enterprise would be a des-
perate affair and one far more like
ly to end in bloody failure than in
anything like great success. 1t
could really hope for success only
after the besieged have been worn
down by hunger and by constant
strafing and are running short of
ammunition and essential supplies.
From any other point of view. and
prudence would seem to indicate
that it be delayed until other means
have been tried
One point which seems certain to
receive consideration in the near
future is the question of evacuating
in whole or in part. the women and
children (and perhaps other nom
combatants) of the island of Great
Britain.
Stupendous Task.
The evacuation of 81 900 900 people
is stupendous task but If it could
even be partly accomplished, 1t would
be of very great advantage to the
defenders of the island from rvery
point of view. Every useless mouth
that can be sent out of the island
increases the supply of food, fuel
and other essentials for the re-
mainder. helps to prevent conges-
ton on the roads and in working
areas" this congestion was one of
the great handicaps of the Allies in
Flanders and France, heartens the
defenders with the thought that
their loved ones, at all events, are
safe.
If the island Of Great Britain be
considered as beleaguered locality,
the law of war is clear. Our own
American regulations set it forth
when a commander of a besieged
place expels the non-combatants, in
order to lessen the number of chose
who consume his stock of provisions.
it is lawful, though an extreme
measure. to drive them back. so as
to hasten the surrender"
But to stop them. the ships carry
ing them might have to be attacked
by bomb or torpedo. since the Ger
mans would have no other means of
dealing with the situation, and here,
too, the rule is clear: TT is not
necessary to cease or relax fire be-
cause the enemy sends women and
children out Of his lines in order to
get them to a place of safety, or to
employ compassion, but fire must
not be Intentionally opened in their
direction"
tcopyrisht. 1910, BY New York
Tribune. 1nc.)