| Continuity of conception is imperative to safeguard
leadership in the nervous trials of reality. Knowledge or capacity in
individuals is not enough. In war the organically developed capacity
of a majority is necessary, and for this decades are needed. In a
small hundred -thousand army, if the generals were not also to be
small, it was imperative to create a great theoretical framework. To
this end large-scale practical exercises or war games were
introduced not so much to train the General Staff, but rather to
create a class of higher commanders.
These would be capable of thinking in full-scale military terms.
Seeckt insisted that false doctrines, springing from personal experiences of the Great War,
42
should be avoided. All the lessons of that war were thoroughly and systematically studied.
New principles of training and instructional courses of all kinds were introduced. All the
existing manuals were rewritten, not for the hundred -thousand army, but for the armed
might of the German Reich. In order to baffle the inquisitive Allies, whole sections of these
manuals were printed in special type and made public. Those for internal consumption were
secret. The main principle inculcated was the need for the closest co-operation of all vital
arms. Not only the main services? infantry, motorised cavalry, and artillery? were to be
tactically interwoven, but machine-gun, trench-mortar, tommy-gun units, and anti-tank
weapons, army air squadrons, and much else were all to be blended. It is to this theme
that the German war leaders attributed their tactical successes in the campaigns of 1939
and 1940. By 1924, Seeckt could feel that the strength of the German Army was slowly
increasing beyond the hundred-thousand limit. ?The fruits of this,? said his biographer,
?were born only ten years later.? In 1925, the old Field-Marshal von Mackensen
congratulated Seeckt on his building-up of the Reichswehr, and compared him, not
unjustly, to the Scharnhorst who had secretly prepared the Prussian counter-stroke against
Napoleon during the years of the French occupation of Germany after Jena. ?The old fire
burnt still, and the Allied Control had not destroyed any of the lasting elements of German
strength.?
In the summer of 1926, Seeckt conducted his largest military exercise for comma the foremost tubes
fired theirs, we were all watching results. I'll never forget that cheer
that went up; on the port bow of one of the ships a yellow flash and
492
a great column of smoke and water shot up from her. We knew we
had hit, personally I could not see how we could have missed so
close as we were. The enemy never fired a shot at us, I feel they
must have been very surprised. After we had fired our torpedoes we
went back into our own smoke-screen, altered course again to
starboard. ?Stand by to fire remaining torpedoes?; and this time as
soon as we poked our nose out of the smoke-screen, the enemy let
us have it. A shell hit the engine-room, killed my tubes' crew, I was
blown to the after end of the tubes, I must have been knocked out
for a while, because when I came to, my arm hurt me; the ship had
stopped with a list to port. Here is something, believe it or believe it
not, I climbed back into the control seat, I see those two ships, I
fired the remaining torpedoes, no one told me to, I guess I was
raving mad. God alone knows why I fired them, but I did. The
Acasta's guns were firing the whole time, even firing with a list on
the ship. The enemy then hit us several times, but one big explosion
took place right aft, I have often wondered whether the enemy hit
us with a torpedo, in any case it seemed to lift the ship out of the
water. At last the Captain gave orders to abandon ship. I will always
remember the Surgeon Lieutenant,1 his first ship, his first action.
Before I jumped over the side, I saw him still attending to the
wounded, a hopeless task, and when I was in the water I saw the
Captain leaning over the bridge, take a cigarette from a case and
light it. We shouted to him to come on our raft, he waved ?Good-bye
and good luck?? the end of a gallant man.
Thus perished 1,474 officers and men of the Royal Navy and forty-one of the Royal Air
Force. Despite prolonged search, only thirty-nine were rescued and brought in later by a
Norwegian ship. In addition, six men were picked up by the enemy and taken to Germany.
The Scharnhorst, heavily damaged by the Acasta's torpedo, made her way to Trondheim.
While this action was going on, the cruiser Devonshire, with the King of Norway and his
Ministers, was about a hundred miles to the westward. The Valiant coming north to meet
the convoy was still a long way off. The only message received from the Glorious was
corrupt and barely intelligible, which suggests thon Thursday, saw the gunner in
question and had a rocket fired off. Moreover, it was the
Admiralty Committee over which I presided early in the year
which produced the idea of using these distress rockets. I am,
therefore, well acquainted with the subject. The Air Ministry, not
for the first time, spread itself into very large demands, and,
using its priority, barged in heavily into other forms of not less
important production. I agree that P.A.C.8 rockets may be a good
interim defence against low-flying attack, but they have to take
their place in the general scheme. I thought myself about five
thousand a month would be sufficient, but I am willing to agree
to fifteen hundred a week, or six thousand a month. This figure
could be somewhat extended if the wire -recovery projects you
mention were further developed and proved an effective
economy.
(Action this day.)
Prime Minister to General Ismay. 25.VIII.40.
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Air.
25.VIII.40.
(Action this day.)
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War. 25.VIII.40.
666
War Office have accepted from the War Cabinet the responsibility
of dealing with delayed -action bombs. This may become a feature
of the enemy attack. A number were thrown last night into the
City, causing obstruction. They may even try them on Whitehall!
It seems to me that energetic effort should be made to provide
sufficient squads to deal with this form of attack in the large
centres. The squads must be highly mobile, so as not to waste
men and material. They must move in motor lorries quickly from
one point to another. I presume a careful system of reporting all
unexploded bombs and the time at which they fell is in operation,
and that this information will be sent immediately to the delayedaction
section of Home Defence, which has no doubt already
been established, and also the various local branches. The
service, which is highly dangerous, must be considered
particularly honourable, and rewards should follow its successful
discharge.
I should be very glad to see your plans for the new section,
together with numbers, and it will also be interesting to have a
short account of the work done up to date and the methods
employed. I presume you are in touch with all the scientific
authorities you need.
On the other hand, I am asking the Air Ministry for information as
to their reciprocating this process on the enemy.
(General Ismay to see.)
I cannot feel you are justifiedfrom the United States as yet. We have not
expected them to send military aid, but they have not even sent
any worthy contribution in destroyers or planes, or by a visit of a
squadron of their Fleet to southern Irish ports. Any pressure
which you can apply in this direction would be invaluable.
We are most deeply grateful to you for all your help and for [the
four Canadian and I
entirely agree with the principle that the first stage is the formulation of a
felt want by the fighting Service. Once this is clearly defined in terms of
simple reality it is nearly always possible for the scientific experts to find a
solution. The Services should always be encouraged to explain what it is that
hurts or hinders them in any particular branch of their work. For instance, a
soldier advancing across No-Man's-Land is hit by a bullet which prevents his
locomotion functioning further. It is no use telling him or his successor to be
D.S.R., Controller and Secretary. 16.X.39
559
brave, because that condition has already been satisfied. It is clear however
that if a steel plate or other obstacle had stood between the bullet and the
soldier, the latter's powers of locomotion would not have been deranged.
The problem therefore becomes how to place a shield in front of the soldier.
It then emerges that the shield is too heavy for him to carry, thus
locomotion must be imparted to the shield; and how? Hence the tanks. This
is of course a simple example.
2. In your list of Branches and Departments very little seems to be allowed
for physical investigation, the bulk being concentrated upon application and
development. I am therefore very glad to know that the Clarendon
Laboratory will be utilised for this purpose, and I shall be dealing with the
paper on that subject later in the day.
Requisitioning of Trawlers
I have asked the Minister of Agriculture to bring Mr. Ernest Bevin and his
deputation to the Admiralty at 4.15 o'clock tomorrow after they have
explored the ground among themselves. Let all be notified and an official
letter written to the Ministry of Agriculture inviting them here. I will preside
myself.
Meanwhile A.C.N.S., D.T.D. and Controller or Deputy-Controller should,
together with Financial Secretary, meet together this evening to work out a
plan, the object of which is the Utmost Fish, subject to naval necessity. The
immediate loss arising from our requisition should be shared between ports,
and the fact that a port has built the best kind of trawlers must not lead to
its being the worst sufferer. Side by side with this equalisation process a
type of trawler which can be built as quickly as possible, and will serve its
purpose, should be given facilities in the shipyards. As soon as these
trawlers flow in, they can either be added to the various ports or else be
given to the ports from whom thhas become less
important now that the Germans have control of all the French
and Belgian orefields. We must look to the Mediterranean for
action.
You were going to let me have your plan for exchanging
destroyers of more endurance with the Mediterranean flotilla.
Could I have this with dates?
To this Admiral Pound replied through the First Lord the same day:
We have now gained experience of the air conditions in the
Western Mediterranean and as soon as the present operation on
which the Eastern Fleet is employed is completed, we shall know
pretty well what we are faced with in the Eastern Mediterranean.
There is no doubt that both Force H and the Eastern
Mediterranean Fleet work under a grave disadvantage inasmuch
as it is not possible to give them fighter protection, as we do in
the North Sea when ships are in the bombing area.
At the moment we are faced with the immediate problem of
getting aircraft and A-A guns to Malta, and aircraft to Alexandria.
I am not at all certain that the risk of passing a ship with all these
available stores through the Mediterranean is not too great, and
that it might not be better to accept the delay of sending her
round the Cape.
There is also the question of Illustrious to be considered, but this
need not be settled immediately as she must first come home to
embark a full complement of Fulmar fighters.
Arrangements arc being made to replace some of the destroyers
433
at Gibraltar by others with longer endurance, but the date on
which they leave will probably be dependent on the escorting of
the ship I have referred to above to Gibraltar.
1. It is now three weeks since I vetoed the proposal to evacuate
the Eastern Mediterranean and bring Admiral Cunningham?s fleet
to Gibraltar. I hope there will be no return to that project. Anyone
can see the risk from air attack which we run in the Central
Mediterranean. From time to time and for sufficient objects this
risk will have to be faced. Warships are meant to go under fire.
Our position would be very different if I had been assisted in my
wish in October of last year to reconstruct the Royal Sovereign
class with heavy anti-aircraft armour on their decks at a cost to
their speed through increased bulging. The difficulties which were
presented at every stage were such as to destroy this proposal,
and we are no further on than we were a year ago. If we had the
Royal Sovereigns armoured, and their guns cocked up, or some
of them, we could awill be embarked and she be ready to
exchange with Ark Royal.
4. I am very glad that arrangements will be made to send out
destroyers of longer radius to Gibraltar, and to bring home the
short-radius vessels to the Narrow Seas.
* * * * *
Meanwhile Admiralty policy had again been most carefully scrutinised, and on
July 15 the intention to maintain a strong force in the Eastern Mediterranean
435
was reiterated in a signal to the Commander-in-Chief. This message stated
that in the East the chief British task would be to destroy the enemy naval
forces, although they had a numerical preponderance. In the West, Force H
would control the western exit from the Mediterranean and undertake
offensive operations against the coast of Italy. I was in general agreement
with this strong policy. The Commander-in-Chief was invited to say what
heavy ships he considered necessary for the two forces and if redistribution
were thought desirable, to advise whether the exchange should take place
through the Mediterranean or round the Cape.
In reply he asked that both the Valiant and the Barham should join him. This
would give him four battleships with the best available gun-range and speed.
He could then dispense with the Royal Sovereign as with her poor deck
protection and inferior speed she was a constant source of anxiety.
Furthermore, he required two carriers, including the Illustrious, and two eightinch
cruisers. He agreed with the First Sea Lord that in the Western
Mediterranean a force comprising the Hood and the Ark Royal with either one
or two ?R? class battleships would meet requirements. With these forces he
considered that the Mediterranean could be dominated and the Eastern basin
held indefinitely, provided that Malta was adequately protected by fighters and
that his resources at Alexandria were built-up. In conclusion he said: ?By
carrying out a concerted movement it should be possible to pass
reinforcements through the Mediterranean, but it would probably be desirable
to do it all in one operation.?
We thus reached a considerable measure of agreement in our talks at the
Admiralty. It was common ground between us that Admiral Cunningham?s
fleet should be reinforced by a battleship, an aircraft carrier and two cruisers,
and at the same time the opportunity should be taken to run a convoy of store
ships to Malta from Alexandria. Thereafter on July 23 the First Sea Lord in the
course of a Minute to the First Lord and me said:
Full Two British
divisions due to start for France in February should be retained in England and prepared for
fighting in Norway. Meanwhile, every effort should be made to procure the assent and if
possible the co-operation of the Norwegians and Swedes. The issue of what to do if
Norway and Sweden refused, as seemed probable, was never faced.
A vivid episode now sharpened everything in Scandinavia. The reader will remember my
concern to capture the Altmark, the auxiliary of the Spee. This vessel was also a floating
prison for the crews of our sunk merchant ships. British captives released by Captain
Langsdorff according to international law in Montevideo Harbour told us that nearly three
hundred British merchant seamen were on board the Altmark. This vessel hid in the South
Atlantic for nearly two months, and then, hoping that the search had died down, her
captain made a bid to return to Germany. Luck and the weather favoured her, and not until
February 14, after passing between Iceland and the Faroes, was she sighted by our aircraft
in Norwegian territorial waters.
On the position as reported to me this morning, it would seem that the
cruiser and destroyers should sweep northward during the day up the coast
of Norway, not hesitating to arrest Altmark in territorial waters should she be
found. This ship is violating neutrality in carrying British prisoners of war to
Germany. Surely another cruiser or two should be sent to rummage the
First Lord to First Sea Lord. 16.2.40.
423
Skagerrak tonight? The Altmark must be regarded as an invaluable trophy.
In the words of an Admiralty communiqu? ?certain of His Majesty's ships which were
conveniently disposed were set in motion.? A destroyer flotilla, under the command of
Captain Philip Vian, of H.M.S. Cossack, intercepted the Altmark, but did not immediately
molest her. She took refuge in Josing Fiord, a narrow inlet about half a mile long
surrounded by high snow-clad cliffs. Two British destroyers were told to board her for
examination. At the entrance to the fiord they were met by two Norwegian gunboats, who
informed them that the ship was unarmed, had been examined the previous day, and had
received permission to proceed to Germany, making use of Norwegian territorial waters.
Our destroyers thereupon withdrew.
When this information reached the Admiralty, I intervened, and with the concurrence of the
Foreign Secretary, ordered our ships to enter the fiord. I did not often act so dire The only scale of attack which it seems to me
need be contemplated for the centre of Government is, say, five
hundred parachutists or Fifth Columnists. What is the present
plan, and what is the scale against which it is being provided?
You might do something for Jos. He is a grand-hearted man.
I am rather doubtful, from information which has reached me,
whether our home timber resources are being adequately
developed.
This, of course, is primarily a matter for the Minister of Supply,
who I know has made certain departmental adjustments recently
with this particular end in view.
Let me have a statement showing the scheme of defence for the
Central Government, Whitehall, etc. What was the scale of attack
prescribed, and who was responsible for taking the measures?
What was the reason for attempting to put an anti-tank obstacle
across St. James?s Park? Who-ordered this? When was it counterordered?
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War.
20.VII.40.
Prime Minister to Minister without Portfolio.
20.VII.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
21.VII.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
23.VII.40.
647
I am told that the refuelling of fighter aeroplanes could be much
more rapidly achieved if there were more tankers on the
aerodromes, and considering that an attack by air would make
every minute gained in returning the fighters to the air most
precious, I should be glad if measures were taken at once to
double it or greatly increase the fuelling facilities.
I do not seem to have had any answer from you to my query
about whether the 2d Canadian Division and all it stands for is
being frittered away in Iceland.
1. It is, of course, urgent and indispensable that every effort
should be made to obtain secretly the best possible information
about the German forces in the various countries overrun, and to
establish intimate contacts with local people, and to plant agents.
This, I hope, is being done on the largest scale, as opportunity
serves, by the new organisation under M.E.W. None of this
partakes of the nature of military operations.
2. It would be most unwise to disturb the coasts of any of these
countries by the kind of silly fiascos which were perpetrated at
Boulogne and Guernsey. The idea of working all these coasts up
against us by pin-prick raids and fulsome communiques is one to
be strictly avoided.
3. Sir Roger Keyes is now studying the whole subject of medium
raids ? i.e., not less than five nor more than ten and two more by the end of May. Let me know
how far the present prospects of men and material allow of this.
Let me know also what are the latest ideas for the structure and
organisation of an armoured division. This should be prepared on
one sheet of paper, showing all the principal elements and
accessories.
It is very important to get on with the uniforms for the Home
Guard. Let me have a forecast of deliveries.
My objection was to anything in the nature of sinking at sight or
sinking without due provision for the safety of the crews.
Provided this is excluded, there can be no reason against sinking
a captured ship if, owing to air attack or other military reasons, it
is impossible to bring her into port as a prize. The disadvantages
of sinking a ship and losing valuable tonnage are obvious, and I
do not see why in nineteen cases out of twenty the Admiralty
cannot put a prize crew on board and send the ship in, in the
ordinary way. I see no objection to the action taken in the
Hermione case,7 which falls entirely within the general principles
set forth above.
The whole question of holidays and reduced hours should be
considered by the Cabinet at an early date. It is far too soon to
assume that the danger has passed. It is a great mistake to tell
the workpeople that they are tired. On the other hand, certain
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
2.VIII.40.
(Action this day.)
Prime Minister to First Lord. 2.VIII.40.
Prime Minister to Sir Edward Bridges.
2.VIII.40.
653
easements are indispensable. Please communicate with Mr.
Bevin, Lord Beaverbrook, and the Minister of Supply so that their
views may be in readiness for Cabinet conversation. I should also
like to know what is being done about holidays for the Civil
Service and for Ministers, and persons in high Service positions.
Something will have to be done about this, but we must be very
careful not to be caught while in an August mood.
The attached memorandum by Lord Mottistone on duties of
police in the event of invasion raises a very difficult question, and
one that must be speedily settled. We cannot surely make
ourselves responsible for a system where the police will prevent
the people from resisting the enemy, and will lay down their arms
and become the enemy?s servant in any invaded area. I confess I
do not see my way quite clearly to the amendments required in
the regulations. In principle, however, it would seem that the
police should withdraw from any in
This represented the highest professional advice, and of course is just the kind of thing that
passes easily through a grave, wise Cabinet. Events swept it away; but not until a great
deal of money had been spent. The barrage mines came in handy later on for other tasks.
* * * * *
Presently a new and formidable danger threatened our life. During September and October,
nearly a dozen merchant ships were sunk at the entrance of our harbours, although these
had been properly swept for mines. The Admiralty at once suspected that a magnetic mine
378
had been used. This was no novelty to us; we had even begun to use it on a small scale at
the end of the previous war. In 1936, an Admiralty Committee had studied counter -
measures against magnetic-firing devices, but their work had dealt chiefly with countering
magnetic torpedoes or buoyant mines, and the terrible damage that could be done by large
ground-mines laid in considerable depth by ships or aircraft had not been fully realised.
Without a specimen of the mine, it was impossible to devise the remedy. Losses by mines,
largely Allied and neutral, in September and October had amounted to fifty-six thousand
tons, and in November Hitler was encouraged to hint darkly at his new ?secret weapon? to
which there was no counter. One night when I was at Chartwell, Admiral Pound came down
to see me in serious anxiety. Six ships had been sunk in the approaches to the Thames.
Every day hundreds of ships went in and out of British harbours, and our survival depended
on their movement. Hitler's experts may well have told him that this form of attack would
compass our ruin. Luckily he began on a small scale, and with limited stocks and
manufacturing capacity.
Fortune also favoured us more directly. On November 22 between 9 and 10 P.M., a German
aircraft was observed to drop a large object attached to a parachute into the sea near
Shoeburyness. The coast here is girdled with great areas of mud which uncover with the
tide, and it was immediately obvious that whatever the object was it could be examined
and possibly recovered at low water. Here was our golden opportunity. Before midnight
that same night two highly skilled officers, Lieutenant-Commanders Ouvry and Lewis from
H.M.S. Vernon, the naval establishment responsible for developing underwater weapons,
were called to the Admiralty, where the First Sea Lord and I interviewed them and heard
their plans. By 1.30 in the morning, they were on tNewcastle or Glasgow, which are under long repair. A
record evolution should be made of getting one or two of these
turrets mounted. Report to me about this and dates. There is a
9.2 Army experimental gun and mounting, and surely we have
some twelve-inch on railway mountings. If our ships cannot use
the Straits, the enemy must not be able to. Even if guns cannot
fire onto the French shore, they are none the less very valuable.
Some of our heavy artillery ? the eighteen-inch howitzer and the
9.2?s ? should be planted in positions whence they could deny the
ports and landings to the enemy, and as C.I.G.S. mentioned,
support the counter-attack which would be launched against any
attempted bridgehead. Much of this mass of artillery I saved from
the last war has done nothing, and has been under reconditioning
for a whole year.
Let me have a good programme for using it to support counter -
strokes and deny landings, both north and south of the Thames.
Farther north I have seen already some very good heavy
batteries.
Prime Minister to General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee. 30.VIII.40.
275
I should like also to be informed of the real [actual
fitted for wire-cutting in its bow. By means of a drawbridge or
shelving bow [the tanksconquered locally, it would be natural that events should
follow the above course. But if America continued neutral, and we
were overpowered, I cannot tell what policy might be adopted by
a pro-German administration such as would undoubtedly be set
up.
Although President is our best friend, no practical help has
[reached ustill after the end of 1940. Beware lest these fortification
people and other departmentals do not consume our strength upon longscale
developments which cannot mature till after the climax which settles
our fate.
I see the departments full of loose fat, following on undue starvation. It
would be much better from your point of view to come along with your
alguazils as critics upon wasteful exhibitions, rather than delaying action.
Don't hamper departments acting in a time of crisis; give them the
responsibility; but call them swiftly to account for any failure in thrift.
I hope you will not mind me writing to you upon this subject, because I feel
just as strongly about the husbanding of the money power as I do about the
war effort, of which it is indeed an integral part. In all these matters you can
count on my support, and also, as the head of a spending department, upon
my submission to searching superintendence.
* * * * *
In every war in which the Royal Navy has claimed the command of the seas, it has had to
pay the price of exposing immense targets to the enemy. The privateer, the raiding cruiser,
and above all the U-boat, have in all the varying forms of war exacted a heavy toll upon the
life-lines of our commerce and food-supply. A prime function of defence has, therefore,
always been imposed upon us. From this fact the danger arises of our being driven or
subsiding into a defensive naval strategy and habit of mind. Modern developments have
aggravated this tendency. In the two Great Wars, during parts of which I was responsible
for the control of the Admiralty, I have always sought to rupture this defensive obsession
by searching for forms of counter-offensive. To make the enemy wonder where he is going
to be hit next may bring immeasurable relief to the process of shepherding hundreds of
convoys and thousands of merchantmen safely into port. In the First World War I hoped to
find in the Dardanelles, and later in an attack upon Borkum and other Frisian islands, the
means of regaining the initiative, and forcing the weaker naval power to study his own
problems rather than ours. Called to the Admiralty again in 1939, and as soon as
immediate needs were dealt with and perils warded off, I could not rest content with the
policy of ?convoy and blockade.? I sought earnestly for a way of attacking Germany by
naval means.
First and foremost gleamed the Baltic. The command of the Baltic by a British Fleet carried
with it possiThe Cabinet, including the Foreign Secretary, appeared strongly
favourable to this action.
It is therefore necessary to take all steps to prepare it.
First Lord to First Sea Lord and others. 19.IX.39.
400
1. The negotiations with the Norwegians for the chartering of their tonnage
must be got out of the way first.
2. The Board of Trade would have to make arrangements with Sweden to
buy the ore in question, as it is far from our wish to quarrel with the
Swedes.
3. The Foreign Office should be made acquainted with our proposals, and
the whole story of Anglo -American action in 1918 must be carefully set forth,
together with a reasoned case.
4. The operation itself should be studied by the Admiralty Staff concerned.
The Economic Warfare Department should be informed as and when
necessary.
Pray let me be continually informed of the progress of this plan, which is of
the highest importance in crippling the enemy's war industry.
A further Cabinet decision will be necessary when all is in readiness.
On the twenty-ninth, at the invitation of my colleagues, and after the whole subject had
been minutely examined at the Admiralty, I drafted a paper for the Cabinet upon this
subject and on the chartering of neutral tonnage which was linked with it.
Norway and Sweden
Memorandum by the First Lord of the Admiralty
September 29, 1939.
Chartering Norwegian Tonnage.
The Norwegian Delegation is approaching, and in a few days the President
of the Board of Trade hopes to make a bargain with them by which he
charters all their spare tonnage, the bulk of which consists of new prada replica handbags tankers.
The Admiralty consider the chartering of this tonnage most important, and
Lord Chatfield has written strongly urging it upon them.
German Supplies of Iron Ore from Narvik.
2. At the end of November the Gulf of Bothnia normally freezes, so that
Swedish iron ore can be sent to Germany only through Oxelosund in the
401
Baltic, or from Narvik at the north of Norway. Oxelosund can export only
about one-fifth of the weight of ore Germany requires from Sweden. In
winter normally the main trade is from Narvik, whence ships can pass down
the west coast of Norway, and make the whole voyage to Germany without
leaving territorial waters until inside the Skagerrak.
It must be understood that an adequate supply of Swedish iron ore is vital to
Germany, and the interception or prevention of these Narvik supplies during
the winter months, i.e., from October to the end of April,upon the enemy communications be
possible? Are the enemy resources sufficient to hold down all the
countries at present conquered as well as a large part of France,
while they are fighting the French Army and Great Britain?
(4) Is it not possible thus to prolong the resistance until the
United States come in?
General weygand, while agreeing with the conception of the counter -stroke on
the lower Seine, said that he had inadequate forces to implement it. He added
that, in his judgment, the Germans had got plenty to spare to hold down all
the countries at present conquered as well as a large part of France. Reynaud
added that the Germans had raised fifty-five divisions and had built four
thousand to five thousand heavy tanks since the outbreak of war. This was of
course an immense exaggeration of what they had built.
In conclusion, I expressed in the most formal manner my hope that if there
was any change in the situation the French Government would let the British
Government know at once, in order that they might come over and see them
at any convenient spot, before they took any final decisions which would
govern their action in the second phase of the war.
We then took leave of P?tain, Weygand, and the staff of G.Q.G., and this was
the last we saw of them. Finally I took Admiral Darlan apart and spoke to him
159
alone. ?Darlan, you must never let them get the French Fleet. ? He promised
solemnly that he would never do so.
* * * * *
The morning was cloudy, thus making it impossible for the twelve Hurricanes
to escort us. We had to choose between waiting till it cleared up or taking a
chance in the Flamingo. We were assured that it would be cloudy all the way.
It was urgently necessary to get back home. Accordingly we started alone,
calling for an escort to meet us, if possible, over the Channel. As we
approached the coast, the skies cleared and presently became cloudless. Eight
thousand feet below us on our right hand was Havre, burning. The smoke
drifted away to the eastward. No new escort was to be seen. Presently I
noticed some consultations going on with the captain, and immediately after
we dived to a hundred feet or so above the calm sea, where aeroplanes are
often invisible. What had happened? I learned later that they had seen two
German aircraft below us firing at fishing-boats. We were lucky that their
pilots did not look upward. The new escort met us as we approached the
English shore, and the faithful Flaminhave made a good impression.
The battle here for air mastery continues to be severe, but firm
confidence is felt in its eventual outcome.
It is surprising that the violent impact of the air upon our control of the
Mediterranean had not been more plainly foreseen by the British Government
before the war and by their expert advisers. In any case, however, we had
fallen so far behind in the air race with Germany that the defence of Britain
made an overwhelming demand on the already outnumbered forces we
possessed. Until the Battle of Britain had been decisively won, every
reinforcement of aircraft to the Mediterranean and Egypt had been an act of
acute responsibility. Even in the winter months, when we felt we were
masters of our own daylight air at home, it was very hard under the full fury
of the Blitz to send away fighter aircraft either to Malta or to Egypt. It was
also most painful to take from bombarded British cities and vital seaports and
munitions factories the anti-aircraft guns and shells sorely needed for their
protection, and to send these either all round the Cape to Egypt or at much
peril direct to Malta.
443
The reinforcement of Malta?s hitherto neglected air defences was pressed
forward in spite of losses and disappointments. Among the tasks of Admiral
Somerville?s force at Gibraltar was the convoying of fighter aircraft in a carrier
to within flying distance of Malta. The first of these efforts was made in the
beginning of August, when twelve Hurricanes were flown into the island from
the aircraft-carrier Argus. Until their arrival the air defence of Malta consisted
of three Gladiators, known locally by the affectionate names of ?Faith,?
?Hope,? and ?Charity.? We made a second attempt in November; but there
was a tragedy. Nine aircraft out of fourteen, which had been launched from
the Argus, four hundred miles to the westward of the island, ran out of fuel on
the way through a change of wind, and perished at sea with their devoted
pilots. Never again were the margins cut so fine, and though many similar
operations took place in the future never did such a catastrophe recur.
* * * * *
It had also become necessary to find a way of sending aircraft to the Middle
East which would avoid both the dangers of the Mediterranean and the fearful
delay around the Cape. An overland route from West Africa would save many
vital days and some shipping. The machines had either to be flown ashore
from an aircraft-carrier, o the whole vast business of our worldwide trade
continues without interruption or appreciable diminution. Great convoys of
troops are escorted to their various destinations. The enemy's ships and
commerce have been swept from the seas. Over 2,000,000 tons of German
shipping is now sheltering in German, or interned in neutral harbours. In the
first fortnight of the war we have actually arrested, seized, and converted to
our own use, 67,000 tons more German merchandise than has been sunk in
ships of our own. Again I reiterate my caution against oversanguine
conclusions. We have in fact, however, got more supplies in this country this
afternoon than we should have had if no war had been declared and no Uboat
had come into action. It is not going beyond the limits of prudent
statement if I say that at that rate it will take a long time to starve us out.
From time to time the German U-boat commanders have tried their best to
behave with humanity. We have seen them give good warning and also
endeavour to help the crews to find their ways to port. One German captain
signalled to me personally the position of a British ship which he had just
328
sunk, and urged that rescue should be sent. He signed his message,
?German Submarine.? I was in some doubt at the time to what address I
should direct a reply. However, he is now in our hands, and is treated with
all consideration.
Even taking six or seven U-boats sunk as a safe figure, 7 that is one-tenth of
the total enemy submarine fleet as it existed at the declaration of war
destroyed during the first fortnight of the war, and it is probably one-quarter
or perhaps even one-third of all the U -boats which are being employed
actively. But the British attack upon the U-boats is only just beginning. Our
hunting force is getting stronger every day. By the end of October, we
expect to have three times the hunting force which was operating at the
beginning of the war.
This speech, which lasted only twenty-five minutes, was extremely well received by the
House, and in fact it recorded the failure of the first German U-boat attack upon our trade.
My fears were for the future, but our preparations for 1941 were now proceeding with all
possible speed and on the largest scale which our resources would allow.
* * * * *
By the end of September, we had little cause for dissatisfaction with the results of the first
impact of the war at sea. I could feel that I had effectively taken over the great dbases [in British
possessionsno doubt would strongly endorse.
This is not the only Germany which we shall live to see, but we have to
consider that at present two or three men, in what may well be a desperate
position, have the whole of that mighty country in their grip, have that
wonderful scientific, intelligent, docile, valiant people in their grip, a
population of seventy millions; that there is no dynastic interest such as the
monarchy bring as a restraint upon policy, because it looks long ahead and
has much to lose; and that there is no public opinion except what is
manufactured by those new and terrible engines? broadcasting and a
controlled press. Politics in Germany are not as they are over here. There,
you do not leave office to go into Opposition. You do not leave the Front
Bench to sit below the Gangway. You may well leave your high office at a
quarter of an hour's notice to drive to the police station, and you may be
conducted thereafter very rapidly to an even graver ordeal.
It seems to me that men in that position might very easily be tempted to do
what even a military dictatorship would not do, because a military
dictatorship, with all its many faults, at any rate is one that is based on a
very accurate study of the real facts; and there is more danger in this kind
of dictatorship than there would be in a military dictatorship, because you
have men who, to relieve themselves from the great peril which confronts
them at home, might easily plunge into a foreign adventure of the most
dangerous and catastrophic character to the whole world.
* * * * *
The first temptation to such an adventure was soon to be revealed.
During the early part of July, 1934, there was much coming and going over the mountain
paths leading from Bavaria into Austrian territory. At the end of July, a German courier fell
into the hands of the Austrian frontier police. He carried documents, including cipher keys,
which showed that a complete plan of revolt was reaching fruition. The organiser of the
coup d'?at was to be Anton von Rintelen, at that time Austrian Minister to Italy. Dollfuss
and his Ministers were slow to respond to the warnings of an impending crisis and to the
signs of imminent revolt which became apparent in the early hours of July 25. The Nazi
adherents in Vienna mobilised during the morning. Just before one o'clock in the afternoon,
82
a party of armed rebels entered the Chancellery, and Dollfuss, hit by two revolver bullets,
was left to bleed s
It is of no use giving me these reports five days late. The
Admiralty know every day exactly the state of the flotillas. I do
not know why this matter should go through the War Cabinet or
Defence Ministry. Pray tell the Admiralty to send direct to me,
every week, the state o? their flotillas.
I am much concerned that the patrols on the western approaches
should only have gone up to thirty effective. Let me see the chart
showing previous weeks tomorrow.
I shall be obliged if you will let me know the present
unemployment figures, divided into as many categories as is
convenient, and compared with (a) how they stood at the
outbreak of war, and (b) when the new Government was formed.
It is to me incomprehensible that with the 50 American
destroyers coming into service we should not have been able to
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
28.XI.40.
Prime Minister to Minister of Labour.
28.XI.40.
Prime Minister to First Sea Lord.
30.XI.40.
711
raise the total serviceable to above 77 by November 23, when
they stood at 106 on October 16. What happened between
October 16 and October 26 to beat down serviceable destroyers
by 28 vessels, and why did they go down from 84 to 77 between
November 16 and November 23? ? just at the very time when
another dozen Americans were coming into service.
I have authorised the ringing of church bells on Christmas Day,
as the imminence of invasion has greatly receded. Perhaps,
however, you will let me know what alternative methods of giving
the alarm you would propose to use on that day, and, secondly,
what steps would be taken to ensure that the ringing of the bells
for church services and without any invasion does not in fact lead
to an alarm. There must certainly be no relaxation of vigilance.
DECEMBER
All this talk about Atlantic operations and Atlantic islands is most
dangerous, and is contrary to the decision to describe such
operations as ?Shrapnel.? I see no need for these long and
pointless telegrams, and it is becoming quite impossible to
conduct military operations when everything has to be spread
about the Departments and around the world like this.
Kindly give me the assurance that there will be no further
discussion of these matters by telegram without my seeing the
messages before they are multiplied.
Let me also know exactly the lists of officials and departments to
whom these telegrams have been distributed.
Prime Minister to C.-in-C. Home Forces.
30.XI.40.
Prime Minister toarmoured divisions with two or three infantry
divisions have advanced through gap and large masses hurrying
forward behind them. Two great dangers therefore threaten. First
that B.E.F. will be largely left in the air to make a difficult
disengagement and retreat to the old line. Secondly, that the
German thrust will wear down the French resistance before it can
be fully gathered.
Orders given to defend Paris at all costs, but archives of the Quai
d?Orsay already burning in the garden. I consider the next two,
three, or four days decisive for Paris and probably for the French
Army. Therefore the question we must face is whether we can
give further aid in fighters above four squadrons, for which the
French are very grateful, and whether a larger part of our longrange
heavy bombers should be employed tomorrow and the
following nights upon the German masses crossing the Meuse
and flowing into the Bulge. Even so results cannot be
55
guaranteed; but the French resistance may be broken up as
rapidly as that of Poland unless this battle of the Bulge is won. I
personally feel that we should send squadrons of fighters
demanded (i.e., six more) tomorrow, and, concentrating all
available French and British aviation, dominate the air above the
Bulge for the next two or three days, not for any local purpose,
but to give the last chance to the French Army to rally its bravery
and strength. It would not be good historically if their requests
were denied and their ruin resulted. Also night bombardment by
a strong force of heavy bombers can no doubt be arranged. It
looks as if the enemy was by now fully extended both in the air
and tanks. We must not underrate the increasing difficulties of his
advance if strongly counter-attacked. I imagine that if all fails
here we could still shift what is left of our own air striking force to
assist the B.E.F. should it be forced to withdraw. I again
emphasise the mortal gravity of the hour, and express my opinion
as above. Kindly inform me what you will do. Dill agrees. I must
have answer by midnight in order to encourage the French.
Telephone to Ismay at Embassy in Hindustani.
The reply came at about 11.30. The Cabinet said ?Yes.? I immediately took
Ismay off with me in a car to M. Reynaud?s flat. We found it more or less in
darkness. After an interval M. Reynaud emerged from his bedroom in his
dressing-gown and I told him the favourable news. Ten fighter squadrons! I
then persuaded him to send ?Excess.?
Both these should arrive early in January.
Prime Minister to General Wavell.
16.XII.40.
609
St. Matthew, Chapter VII, verse 7.2
General Wavell to Prime Minister.
St. James, Chapter I, verse 17.3
* * * * *
Bardia was our next objective. Within its perimeter, seventeen miles in extent,
was the greater part of four more Italian divisions. The defences comprised a
continuous anti-tank ditch and wire obstacles with concrete block-houses at
intervals, and behind this was a second line of fortifications. The storming of
this considerable stronghold required preparation. The 7th Armoured Division
prevented all enemy escape to the north and northwest. For the assault there
were available the 6th Australian Division, the 16th British Infantry Brigade,
the 7th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment (twenty-six tanks), one machine -gun
battalion, one field and one medium regiment of corps artillery.
To complete this episode of desert victory, I shall intrude upon the New Year.
The attack opened early on January 3. One Australian battalion, covered by a
strong artillery concentration, seized and held a lodgment in the western
perimeter. Behind them engineers filled in the anti-tank ditch. Two Australian
brigades carried on the attack and swept east and southeastward. They sang
at that time a song they had brought with them from Australia which soon
spread to Britain.
Have you heard of the wonderful wizard,
The wonderful Wizard of Oz,
And he is a wonderful wizard,
If ever a wizard there was.
This tune always reminds me of these buoyant days. By the afternoon of the
4th, British tanks ? ?Matildas,? as they were named ? supported by infantry,
Prime Minister to General Wavell. 18.XII.40.
610
entered Bardia, and by the 5th all the defenders had surrendered. Forty-five
thousand prisoners and 462 guns were taken.
By next day, January 6, Tobruk in its turn had been isolated by the 7th
Armoured Division, and on the 7th the leading Australian brigade stood before
its eastern defences. Here the perimeter was twenty-seven miles long and
similar to that of Bardia, except that the anti-tank ditch at many points was
not deep enough to be effective. The garrison consisted of one complete
infantry division, a corps headquarters, and a mass of remnants from the
forward areas. It was not possible to launch the assault till January 21, when,
under a strong barrage, another Australian brigade pierced the perimeter on
its southern face. The two otwas the most humane, when he thought about it, Huo Dou did not resemble any of the four princes.
Qiu Chuji said, ?I?m afraid that a man of his stature coming to create havoc here has an ulterior motive. His kung fu originates from Western Tibet; he arrived in the central plains at the beginning of the year. He wounded the three heroes of Henan, and later on he single-handedly killed the seven Lords of Lanzhou. His name was spread widely throughout the land, we didn?t predict that he would have the nerve to come to our sect and cause trouble. The other Tibetan monk is called Da?erba; he has supernatural strength, and his kung fu is from the same school as Huo Dou. It appears that he is the senior apprentice brother. He is a monk, of course he hasn?t come here to get married; he?s here to aid Huo Dou.
When the rest of the evil men heard the two were coming, they remembered the matter of dueling for marriage. Years ago, in front of a crowd of people, Li Mochou had said the tomb contained mountains of treasures, and had countless kung fu manuscripts and manuals; saying there was the formulae to the ?Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms?, the ?Solitary Yang Finger? and numerous others. Although the crooks and scoundrels were unsure, they thought that if they went up to the mountain and opened up the tomb, they would be able to get a share of the spoils. About one hundred or so of them came up the mountain. Originally our ?Big Dipper Formation? could have easily repelled them away from the foot of our mountain, not allowing them to come through and teach them not to take one step into Chongyang Palace. We were resisting them when the misunderstanding occurred; there is no need to say anymore.?
Guo Jing felt very guilty and apologetic, and wanted to say a few words of apology. Qiu Chuji waved his hand and laughed, ?Letting a laugh out rids your worries and the moon is still in the sky above the western lake. The halls and buildings are just objects; human possessions mean nothing, so why worry about them? You have honed your martial arts for the last ten years, could it be that you do not understand the meaning of this??
Guo Jing laughed and said, ?Yes!?
Qiu Chuji laughed and said, ?Actually when I saw the back courtyard being burned down to the ground, I was very angry and furious, but after a while I calmed down. Compared to how calm apprentice brother Ma was, I am nowhere as enlightened as he is.?
Guo Jing said, ?You can?t blame yourself for getting angr
effective bridgehead, we would try, if desired, to carry some
Belgian divisions to France by sea. Vitally important Belgium
should continue in war, and safety [offrom her pockets, two ?ting? noises were heard as they collided with each other, she said, ?Little brother, if you follow my instructions then I?ll give these ingots to you.?
Yang Guo originally didn?t want to have anything do with her, but he heard that her words were suspicious and wanted to find out what she wanted so he pretended to be stupid, and looked at the ingots and said, ?What use do those shiny rocks have??
The Taoist priestess smiled and said, ?It?s money. If you want new clothes, chickens, rice, you could buy them with this.?
Yang Guo put on a baffled expression and said, ?You want to lie to me, I don?t believe you.?
The Taoist priestess laughed and said, ?When have I lied to you? Hey, little kid, what is your name??
Yang Guo said, ?Everyone calls me ?Sha Dan? (Dumb Egg), don?t you know that? What?s your name??
The Taoist priestess laughed and said, ?Sha Dan, you can call me Angelic Priestess, where?s your mother??
Yang Guo said, ?My mum just scolded me, and went over to the other side of the mountain to chop firewood.?
The Taoist priestess said, ?I need a hatchet, go to your home and get one, and then lend it to me.?
Yang Guo was curious, he opened his eyes wide, drooled and made himself look even more like a stupid person, he shook his head incessantly and said, ?I can?t; I can?t lend my family?s hatchet. If dad finds out I?ll be punished.?
The Taoist priestess smiled and said, ?When your parents see the money, they?ll be too pleased to punish you.? As she said this she passed an ingot in his direction. Yang Guo extended his hand to catch it, and then pretended to miss it, and let the ingot hit his shoulder and when it came down it hit his right foot, he held his right foot with his hands and hopped on his left foot and called out, ?Ah, ah, you hit me! I?m going to tell mother!? He called and shouted; he ignored the ingot and ran forward.
The Taoist priestess thought that he was interesting, and smiled. She took off her belt, and waved it at his right foot. Yang Guo heard the wind sound and turned his head around, he was alarmed, and thought, ?That?s our Ancient Tomb sect?s kung fu! Isn?t she a disciple of Quanzhen?? He didn?t dodge and let her belt wrap around his right leg, he fell on the ground and relaxed his body, letting her pull him towards her, and secretly feared, ?Is she going up the mountain to attack Gu Gu??
He thought about Xiao Longnu, he didn?t know whether she was dead or alive, he was extremely worrifield artillery to cut wire.
And further, paragraph 27:
There is always the danger of the enemy getting wind of our
intentions and reinforcing his garrisons with good troops
beforehand, at any rate so far as Borkum, about which he must
243
always be very sensitive, is concerned. On the other hand, the
landing could be effected under the shields of lighters, proof
against machine-gun bullets, and too numerous to be seriously
affected by heavy gunfire [i.e., the fire of heavy gunsDominions, for
whom we are trustees. I have nevertheless always had in mind
your point and have raised it in various telegrams to President as
well as to Mackenzie King. If Great Britain broke under invasion, a
pro-German Government might obtain far easier terms from
Germany by surrendering the Fleet, thus making Germany and
Japan masters of the New World. This dastard deed would not be
done by His Majesty?s present advisers, but if some Quisling
Government were set up, it is exactly what they would do, and
perhaps the only thing they could do, and the President should
bear this very clearly in mind. You should talk to him in this sense
and thus discourage any complacent assumption on United
States? part that they will pick up the debris of the British Empire
by their present policy. On the contrary, they run the terrible risk
that their sea-power will be completely overmatched. Moreover,
islands and naval bases to hold the United States in awe would
certainly be claimed by the Nazis. If we go down, Hitler has a
very good chance of conquering the world.
I hope the foregoing will be a help to you in your conversations.
Nearly a month passed before any result emerged. Then came an encouraging
telegram from the Ambassador. He said (July 5/6) that informed American
opinion was at last beginning to realise that they were in danger of losing the
British Fleet altogether if the war went against us and if they remained
Prime Minister to Lord Lothian.
9.VI.40.
390
neutral. It would, however, be extremely difficult to get American public
opinion to consider letting us have American destroyers unless it could be
assured that in the event of the United States entering the war the British
Fleet or such of it as was afloat would cross the Atlantic if Great Britain were
overrun.
At the end of July, under the increasing pressure from so many angles at
once, I took the matter up again.
It is some time since I ventured to cable personally to you, and
many things, both good and bad, have happened in between. It
has now become most urgent for you to let us have the
destroyers, motor-boats, and flying-boats for which we have
asked. The Germans have the whole French coastline from which
to launch U -boats and dive-bomber attacks upon our trade and
food, and in addition we must be constantly prepared to repel by
sea-action threatened invasion in the Narrow Waters, and also to
deal with break-outs from Norway towards Ireland, Iceland,
Shein secret that he ?had not abandoned hopes of
similar arrangements with Germany.? They took this rather coldly.
Meanwhile, our progress in the air is increasingly disappointing.
With regard to the Italian Pact, I agree with what you write. Mussolini gives
us nothing more than the repetition of promises previously made and broken
by him, except for the withdrawal of troops from Libya, troops which were
probably originally sent there for their nuisance value. It has now become
clear that, as I expected, Mussolini continued his intervention in Spain after
the conversations in Rome had opened. He must be an optimist, indeed,
who believes that Mussolini will cease increasing that intervention now,
should it be required to secure Franco's victory.
As a diplomatic instrument the pact embodies a machinery which is likely to
be found very troublesome to work. It is not to come into force until after
the Italians leave Spain. It is almost certain, however, that many months will
elapse before that occurs, and since what is important is not the presence of
Mr. Churchill to Mr. Eden. 18.IV.38.
Mr. Eden to Mr. Churchill. 28.IV.38.
216
Italian infantry, but the assertions of their experts and the Germans, it will
be difficult to establish with certainty that the withdrawal has taken place.
But maybe some do not mind much about that.
Then there is the Italian position in Abyssinia, which, from what I hear, so
far from improving grows steadily worse. I am afraid that the moment we
are choosing for its recognition will not benefit our authority among the
many millions of the King's coloured subjects.
None the less I equally agree as to the need for caution in any attitude
taken up towards the agreement. After all, it is not an agreement yet, and it
would be wrong certainly for me to say anything which could be considered
as making its fruition more difficult. After all, this is precisely what I
promised I would do in my resignation speech and at Leamington.
The most anxious feature of the international situation, as I see it, is that
temporary relaxation of tension may be taken as a pretext for the relaxation
of national effort, which is already inadequate to the gravity of the times.
Hitler was watching the scene with vigilance. To him also the ultimate alignment of Italy in
a European crisis was important. In conference with his Chiefs of Staff at the end of April,
he was considering how to force the pace. Mussolini wanted a free hand the six battalions and the artillery of the Fifth Greek
Division.
Prime Minister to C.I.G.S.
6.XI.40.
Prime Minister to C.I.G.S.
7.XI.40.
533
Every effort should be made to rush arms or equipment to enable
a reserve division of Greeks to be formed in Crete. Rifles and
machine guns are quite sufficient in this case. To keep a Greek
division out of the battle on the Epirus front would be very bad,
and to lose Crete because we had not sufficient bulk of forces
there would be a crime.
It was time Mr. Eden should come home to report to us as he earnestly
desired. The following telegrams are self-explanatory:
All strongly of the opinion I should return home as rapidly as
possible in order to put whole position as seen from here before
you. Earnestly hope you will agree to this. Propose to leave
tomorrow morning. Perfectly prepared to fly back here if required
after I have seen you, but am convinced that this meeting
between us is most urgent. It is impossible to explain position
and plans fully by telegram.
Please reply urgently.
Assent was given, and the Secretary of State began his journey. The following
points were made in his simultaneous telegrams to me:
Conference [in Cairo Some further reinforcement will be required for Narvik, which
must be studied at once. The Canadians should be considered.
9. At the same time, the sweep of the Skagerrak will now become possible
to clear away the enemy anti -submarine craft and aid our submarines.
The next day I explained to the War Cabinet the circumstances in which it had been
decided to call off the direct assault on Trondheim, and stated that the new plan which the
Prime Minister had approved was, broadly, to send the whole of the 1st Light Division of
Chasseurs Alpins to General Carton de Wiart for his attack on the Trondheim fake gucci tote bag area from the
north and to send the regular brigades from France to reinforce Brigadier Morgan, who had
landed at Andalsnes and had pushed on troops to hold Dombas. Another Territorial brigade
would be put in on the southern line. It might be possible to push part of this southern
473
force right forward to reinforce the Norwegians on the Oslo front. We had been fortunate in
getting all our troops ashore, without loss so far (except of the ship carrying all Brigadier
Morgan's vehicles), and the present plans provided for the disembarkation of some twentyfive
thousand men by the end of the first week in May. The French had offered two further
light divisions. The chief limiting factor was the provision of the necessary bases and lines
of communication on which the forces were to be maintained. The bases would be liable to
heavy air attack.
The Secretary of State for War then said that the new plan was little less hazardous than
the direct attack on Trondheim. Until we had secured the Trondheim aerodrome, little could
be done to offset the heavy scale of enemy air attack. Nor was it altogether correct to
describe the new plan as a ?pincer movement? against Trondheim, since while the northern
force would bring pressure to bear in the near future, the first task of the southern force
must be to secure themselves against a German attack from the south. It might well be a
month before any serious move could be made against Trondheim from this direction. This
was a sound criticism. General Ironside, however, strongly supported the new movement,
expressing the hope that General Carton de Wiart, who when reinforced by the French
would have, he said, quite a large force at his disposal, a large part of which would be
highly mobile, might get astride of the railway from Trondheim to Sweden. The troops
already at Dombas had no guns or transpo
indispensable. This is being done. But surely effort must be made
to aid Greece directly, even if only with token forces. Quite
understand how everyone with you is fixed on idea of set-piece
battle at Mersa Matruh. For that very reason it is unlikely to
occur. Enemy will await completion pipeline and development of
larger forces than are now concentrated. Your difficulties in
attacking across the desert obvious, but if you have no major
offensive of your own in Libya possible during next two months,
Prime Minister to Mr. Eden [at G.H.Q., Middle Eastbegins.
* * * * *
In October, Mussolini, undeterred by belated British naval movements, launched the Italian
armies upon the invasion of Abyssinia. On the tenth, by the votes of fifty sovereign states
to one, the Assembly of the League resolved to take collective measures against Italy, and
a committee of eighteen was appointed to make further efforts for a peaceful solution.
Mussolini, thus confronted, made a clear-cut statement, marked by deep shrewdness.
Instead of saying, ?Italy will meet sanctions with war,? he said: ?Italy will meet them with
discipline, with frugality, and with sacrifice.? At the same time, however, he intimated that
he would not tolerate the imposition of any sanctions which hampered his invasion of
Abyssinia. If that enterprise were endangered, he would go to war with whoever stood in
his path. ?Fifty nations!? he said. ?Fifty nations, led by one!? Such was the position in the
weeks which preceded the dissolution of Parliament in Britain and the general election,
which was now constitutionally due.
* * * * *
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