DEFEAT RAIDERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 138, 13 June 1941, Page 7

DEFEAT RAIDERS

BRITAIN'S PROGRESS Lord Croft Reviews Year's Feats Of Arms Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, June 12. That there was some Tiope that before many months were over the defeat of the night bomber would be a long way towards accomplishment, was the opinion expressed by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for War, Lord Croft, in a speech to-dav. Lord Croft spoke of the "immense leeway" Britain had made up in the military theatre during the last year, and recalled how all the attacks on the British people, both from the air and the sea, so far had been repulsed. Speaking of the Greek campaign, he said that had the Serbs been able to be in a position in time on the right flank there was every hope that the Germans could have been held.

' After - referring to Crete, he summed up the military situation, and said that during the past year and a half the army had been created and had fought some of the first-class battles and some minor engagements. During the last eight months, British and Imperial forces had defeated Graziani's great Italian armies, inflicting casualties, including the taking of over 200,000 prisoners. Speaking of the German counterattack, Lord Croft said: "Our thin screen was driven in from Bengasi to Tobruk. our most forward prepared position. From here, to the present date, the Germans have been unable to budge us in spite of a series of attacks, and I would ask j-ou to remember that Tobruk is 200 miles west of the Mersa Matruh defence line from which General Wavcll started last winter. Tobruk is a timebomb in the German pincer attack in the western approach to Egypt. So long as it holds, and also our main line at Mersa Matruh, Egypt is safe on that flank." He then considered the British strategic position, and pointed out that the Duke of Aosta's wellequipped army of 250.000 men had been destroyed and driven out of their fortified positions by a series of campaigns. Only some 40.000 Italian troops now remain under arms.

Iraq Treachery Stamped Out Lord Croft continued: "When we were fighting in all these different theatres we were suddenly confronted with the treacherous rebellion in Iraq. "By a lightning stroke we landed troops from the east on the principal Iraq aerodromes and crushed the rebellion. Only last week we secured the vital pipeline and saved the oil centre of Mosul from German aggression. If the enemy had won in Iraq by this treachery our difficulties would have been seriously increased. We have restored that situation. Now let us face the facts. While we ho d our left flank in the desert, and wh.l • we have now secured our rear, bo:n in East Africa and in Iraq, wc havi still the problem of our right flank. If the enemy succeeded in us in force from Syria task is far more difficult, for we should bf> menaced in Iraq and Palestine, with a threat to Eeyp*. from tne ■•orth. "We have with ,-p'e Ito this menace, and the f.t"jsc-o;.-• decision t■ > ent* r Pvria !as he« •: taken. lint k-l no < -.•• !.••• i as to imag: le that y r >'.' <- n •' ■ large armies over the o; • • communication? r: *:.r.* in ail the hi-to. - v. v.- v. - .*h<v.:* a c<>r.-;d'r. : ilapse of :;.e. What we can oethre is ti .:t. ;s tuoy ha - . <• already proved, Tii• - fo! :>-s t. • British Kmnn a:e .: ij." - . cer r . an i if they can's:!i! receive ti. .* won l*rful protect: /., -.f the navy to vhun they owe so r.v.:ch. and a-' help I from the a": - , no . o'd v -v' ' cn/v. I them fieri.': .7 o';ah'y. W. .an ! look !H' on ,-v <>: Br:* - h wr'n p ,- ' i'~. • s'«. -- .d c in r ; - • i stand nurrra. p-' >*. "ma: my answer to the c.