The third alternative for a German counterstroke to cover, excuse,
and justify their enforced retirement is an attempt to invade these islands. This, judged from the standpoint of what we may call sane military- policy, is of course crazy. Though the object is very important, the risks of loss are so great that, as a business proposition, the thing can hardly be debated. It is no good merely to throw large bodies of infantry into this country. Invaders must bring with them guns, and not merely field guns but big guns, guns of a calibre equal at least to our nine-inch guns. Even then their infantry are pretty sure to say that it is impossible to fight- unless they have got something really heavy behind to support them. Next, they must bring most of the things which we may call the fitments of the modern battle line. There must be spades and pickaxes literally by the tens of thousands, for a trench line miles upon miles in length will have to be dug within a very few hours of the landing, or rather landings.
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