Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on increases in barges

• Ostend (50 since 31 August)
• Terneuzen (140 since 16 August)
• South end of the Beveland Canal (90 since 1 September)

Ghent is important for (a) iron and steel; (b) textiles; (c) oil fuel storage. Probably barges are going south … to fetch these valuable products. … But movements preliminary to invasion are not impossible. The increase in barges at Ostend is abnormal, but might be accounted for by the removal of obstructions in the canal system.