Lord Stanhope's statement on Tuesday night, reported in some papers
on Wednesday, that it had just been necessary to give orders to the Fleet to man its anti-aircraft guns should perhaps be read in the light of information which reached me from an entirely reliable source a week ago, but which I then decided not to print, to the effect that on the night of Monday, March 27th, German aircraft had been carrying out mass exercises over the North •Sea, near enough to the English coast to be picked up by our detectors. There is nothing improper, or even alarming, about this. German aircraft are quite entitled to fly over the North Sea if they choose. One object may be to keep us guessing strategically, as Herr Hitler is in the habit, by feinting in different direc- tions, of keeping Europe guessing diplomatically. * * * *
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