... THE GREAT ARMADA ASSEMBLES A VIEW OF A PORTION OF THE GREATEST FLEET THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN-- an official picture taken just before zero hour. Warships, transports, landing craft, supply ships, are here seen awaiting the signal to launch the assault. Just by the wingtip of the plane is a large transport crowded with assault troops within a few hours after this picture was taken, they were ...

... This drawing was given in last week's issue of THE SPHERE: it is reproduced here again because it typifies the nature of the problem with which our troops were con fronted in their descent on the French coast on June 6. The first line of defence consisted of the extensive minefields along the coast, and the E-boats which were immediately sum moned to the attack upon the vast array of Allied ...

... AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF GERMAN MINE-DETECTOR. Much German equipment was captured by British troops at Anzio before the break-through last month, and some of it was actually being used against its former owners. Several unusual-type mine-detectors were secured, including the one depicted here. This piece of equipment is on the pram principle the search coil is ahead of two rubber-treaded wheels on ...

... I When our men crept forward in Italy to open their big offensive against the Germans, they carried with them every device for the detection and immobilisation of the enemy's mines. And then found that, in many cases, there were to detect! Instead, they were subjected to intense mortar-fire from the German defenders firmly ensconced on those awkward hill positions. i orrespondents at the ...

... THE fall of Rome, followed so swiftly by the start of the Second Front, makes the position of the Pope more interesting and important than ever. He has been described correctly as the greatest neutral. It is surprising, however, how little the British public knows about him, and how recent is any knowledge of his personality, even existence. Not a single English newspaper printed a single ...

... M The Liberation of Western Europe Begins First Pictures from the Beaches and Battle Zones in Normandy ONE OF THE BEACHHEADS ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF FRANCE Protected by gunfire from Allied Naval Units out at sea, and under cover of a fleet of barrage balloons, British and American landing vessels pour their men and equipment on to the shore. When this picture was taken, this beach was still ...

... THE TANK-MEN PREPARE The regimental band plays to the crews as they stow their ammunition on board a few hours before setting off. Some of these men are veterans of Dunkirk. When this picture was taken they were checking over every last item IN A CINEMA CAR-PARK, Nissen huts were put up to be used as mess-rooms for the troops during the days of waiting before invasion. From here, the men went ...

... A WAR NEWSLETTER-No. 250 i, New Oxford Street, W.C.i. Invasion.-- It has come at last (June 5-6), announced to us in time for luncheon on the 6th in a perfectly matter-of-fact way. No preface, no flourish, just an item of news. Four thousand-odd ships conveyed the Allies to the Normandy shores. Para troops in thousands landed behind the German lines, and the military and civil chiefs had ho ...

... SMOKE-SCREENS PLAYED A PART IN THE ACTUAL LANDING OPERATIONS IN FRANCE. They* were laid by the troops on shore, and by the warships and aircraft supporting the landings-- Drawing by Wm. McDowell THE NAVY'S PART in GUARDING THE BIG LANDING CRAFT DURING THE INVASION BY SEA. A diagrammatic representation of the scene in mid-Channel at dawn as sloops, destroyers and corvettes of the Allied Fleets ...

... IN BURMA: British troops stand at the shattered entrance of the Tunnel on the Maurigdaw-Buthidaung road, to which the Japs clung tenaciously until evicted after heavy fighting. Heavy rainstorms, heralding the monsoon, have now become a serious hindrance to the operations on the Fourteenth Army front in Burma, although in the Myitkyina region General Stilwell may still find it possible to ...

... When Horlicks is scarce, don't forget that many have special need of it In emergency rations issued to soldiers, sailors, and airmen, Horlicks is an essential item. It was specially chosen for this purpose because it is excep tionally nourishing and sustaining. The makers of Horlicks are proud that it has helped to save innumerable lives. Large quantities of Horlicks are also required for ...

... HOW THE FIRST LANDINGS IN FRANCE WERE MADE BY GLIDER AND PARACHUTE; AN R.A.F. RECONNAISSANCE PICTURE SHOWING BRITISH NORSA GLIDERS AND ABANDONED PARACHUTES, after Allied airborne landings had been made in the Normandy fields to the north-east of the town of Caen Even before the landing craft had touched down on the beaches off the northern coast of France, airborne troops had already been ...