This is an inter-service body, under a naval chairman, and holds its first meeting in the Admiralty. The committee is one of several intelligence agencies and will scrutinise all evidence available in London which might seem to have a bearing on the enemy's intentions. It was one of several intelligence agencies that advised the Chiefs of Staff via daily direct reports.
Items in the IWSC Tag
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on German activity in Galicia
It is known that young German male tourists have been staying in Galicia. Some of them have uniforms with them and this is known to the police, who do not interfere. It is considered unlikely that an expedition will be organised in this manner but the situation will be watched.
Invasion Warning Sub-Comittee report on long range guns in the Pas de Calais
Plans for the mounting of long-range guns in the Calais-Boulogne area which may be used to cover a landing in the Dover area are unlikely.
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on German Military Attaché in Ankara
German Military Attaché outlines to a senior Turkish staff officer the German plan for Seelöwe which was an accurate forecast of the form that it finally took.
IWSC assessment is: "Presents no new features."
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report from Bucharest Ambassador
It lays, correctly, emphasis on the use of long-range artillery and minefields to cover the crossing of the Channel in its narrowest part.
The committee recommended that a sharp look-out be kept for these guns
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on invasion threat
No serious threat of invasion yet exists from the Netherlands, French or south-west Norwegian ports. This is evidenced by the lack of shipping concentrations on these coasts.
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on ship build up
Photos of Kiel and Emden show 40-50 merchant ships at Kiel and 350 large motor launches at Emden.
The committee agrees that this was a "new and unusual feature". Both concentrations might have significance; but the merchant ships at Kiel were possibly held up there by "suspected mining or other temporary restrictions", while the 350 possible invasion-craft at Emden "some simple explanation in connection with canal or other water traffic may be the reason.
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.
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on leave being cancelled in the German Army
Leave will be cancelled as of 8 September.
> Army leave is stopped from time to time without special incident.
Invasion Warning Sub-Committee report on photos of <i>Sticknehorn</i> rafts at Cuxhaven
There is little evidence other than the movement of small craft towards the Channel ports to show that preparations for invasion of the U.K. are more advanced than they have been for some time. … If there is an intention to invade the expedition is [probably] being held in readiness in the Baltic or Hamburg.