ARMY AND NAVY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 22, 6 November 1940, Page 6

ARMY AND NAVY.

GROWING STRENGTH OF BRITAIN POSITION IN MIDDLE EAST. (Received This Day, 1.50 p.nO LONIDON, November o'. In his speech in the House of Commons Mr Churchill said that without an army forged tempered and sharpened with power which gives .rb article choice of action war might bp prolonged and might even drift toward disastrous stalemate. “This winter, • continued, “the British Army had got to train itself and perfect .its lighting men in all the arts and manoeuvres-of war that Britain might bo in a position to regain the initiative. He made clear, moreover, that during all the menace of invasion when troops were needed so badly they had never failed to reinforce the British armies in Egyp almost to the limits of the shipping capacity and not only with men hut v with precious weapons. Scores of thousands of troops had left Britain month by month or had been drawn front; other parts of the Empire lor the Midd e. East.. . , Recalling what the loss of France liad meant in the Middle East, Mr Chuichill said: “I am thankful to be able to reassure the House that the balance of forces on the frontiers of Egypt and the Sudan is far lessunfavourable than at the time of the French collapse.” There had not yet been a serious collision with the Italian forces but they * had every reason to he content with the results of skirmishes and forays on the ground and in the air. The Italian published .casualties for the fighting in Libya, amounted to 800 killed, 1700 wounded and 860 missing. The British casualties for the same time were 66 killed, 68 wounded and 36 missing. The Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean had also been continually strengthened and he stressed its readiness and desire at any time to engage the Italian Navty in general action. “The power of the British Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean goes a long way to restore £he situation created by the collapse of France and is a great guarantee to our friends and allies m Turkey of the unweakening power of Great Britain, on the seas,” he added. —British Official Wireless.

Speaking on sea power at Oxford, Baron' Strabolgi, who served for many years in the. Navy, said that the increased losses through U-boat attacks were caused by two factors. The Germans had the use of French west coast ports, while Britain did not have the use *bf bases on the coast of Eire.

Neverthelsss, a sufficient margin of new shipping was available, and because of the success of the convoy system Britain need have no fear of embarrassment for some time to come.