Evening star., 1942-07-29
British Watch Nazis
Rush Fortitications
Along French Coast
Powerful Telescopes Con
Discern Preparation
For Expected Invasion
BY GAULT Mcgowan,

BY GAULT Mcgowan,
War Correspondent Of The Star and
North American Newspaper Alliance.
LONDON, July 29.-From the
most advanced gun position In Brit
ain, with the aid of a powerful
telescope, I watched Nazi prepara-
tions for counter invasion across
the Strait of Dover last week end.
In the brilliant sunlight, the
Calais Casino and the American
hospital OF the last war were dis
tinctly visible, and the sergeant
beside me reported that he could
tell time by the clock n the tower
of the Calais Hotel De Vile.
with these big telescopes. ex-
tremely accurate observation is pos
sible. by taking advantage Of the
rising sun, which throws the Ger
man positions into sharp relief. The
British positions at Dover are only
thrown into relief by the setting
sun.
Trenches, wire entanglements and
gun positions along the Nazi-held
coast are easy to make out, and
the colonel Of the artillery Unit to
which I was attached passes the
time making artistic drawings of
the Nazi positions, filling in the
details from mis- expert knowledge.
Reconnaissance Renewed.
The Germans have announced
their expectation of the opening
Of an Allied front in the west, with
the declaration: 1T is unimportant
when or where this front Is set up.
Germany is prepared for it in every
way" According to Swedish sources,
France Is considered the most likely
territory for the new front, because
of a promise that American troops
again will land in France, made at
West Point on May 20 by the Amer
lean chief of staf1, Gen. Marshall.
German maneuvers are reported in
Northern France, and it is known
that German divisions are dispersed
inland from the coastline ready to
proceed to any threatened point.
German anti-invasion operations
coincide with increased activity
along the Channel front, and re-
newed air reconnaissance over Brit
ain, accompanied by bomb dropping
believed to be aimed at the discov-
cry OF concentration points of Brit
ish and American troops During
the week end, visits OF German
bombers frequently reused the Brit
ish guns. and although the fight
does not resemble the battle OF
Britain In intensity, 1t has been
suficient to give American troops
here their baptism OF bombing. The
steady drone of Nazi planes over
head. the boom OF the guns, the
crash of bombs and the sight of
ruined homes have told the story of
what this country has experienced
to many boy not long away from
New York or New Jersey.
After the long lull, the renewal
Of activity has brought the reality
of the war strongly back to Britain.
and there is = sense of the nearness
Of portentous events.
Auaaeity decreasing.
Both sides appear to be increas-
Ing the audacity Of their operations
along the Channel The Nazis are
using minesweepers, max" ships and
armed trawlers from Calais to Cher
bourg. Friday there was an en-
gagement between British, Polish
and Dutch ,,ntte and arar,v ,,,,~
sveepers of Calais. On Sunday
morning British light forces at
tackled two "flak" ships. damaging
one and sinking one. Today the
light. forces engaged two enemy
trawlers on Cherbourg. sinking one
and damaging the other, which
escaped behind = smoke screen.
This adventurous navy patrol, still
close to the Nazi coast at daylight.
received the attentions Of Nazi
bombing planes. 1t suffered two
casualties, but only minor damage.
All indications are that the Ger
mans have been obliged to pay seri-
GUS attention to the present harass-
Ing operations of the British and
their allies on this front. Nazi air
activity over Britain, spreading
through the eastern and southern
counties and the midlands, shows
the extent OF the operations the
Lufstwaffe must undertake in It's
attempt to cope with the American
and British policy OF dispersal Of
troop formations.