Rumours of German Action
The fact that the great German army is still unemployed on any major military activity is enough in itself to arouse specu- lation, especially as Germany's Italian ally is in difficulties, and some diversion other than attacks on British ships and night bombardments of cities might reasonably be expected. The Nazis themselves, counting upon our curiosity, have been showing themselves eager to feed it. The " invasion ports " are always there with all the men and apparatus for a first-class assault on this island from Norway in the north or Brittany in the south ; and the danger is one that can never be neglected. To remind us of possible early action from these zones Hitler himself has been in the Channel ports, including Boulogne, and making rhetorical speeches from which any or no conclusion may be drawn. The possibilities of attempted invasion cannot be discounted. But there is no lack of other rumoured pro- jects. From Budapest last week came the story of 300,000 Germans about to start for Rumania, and soon the figure was doubled and became 600,00o. This rumour, fanned by Nazi agents, appeared to have no better basis than an order from the Hungarian Government to curtail railway traffic, probably due to a scarcity of fuel. Ice accumulating on the Danube has increased the difficulties of transport to and from Rumania. The moment is not a propitious one for a Balkan adventure through Bulgaria. Another rumour suggests movements of German troops over the Brenner Pass. Does this arise from the " exchange of technicians " between the Axis partners re- ported in Italy, or from the loan of German carrier aeroplanes for taking Italian troops to Albania? No doubt the Germans have their plans, but these are not revealed in the rumours they so diligently sow.
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