ARMIES HAVE SPENT WEEKS IN TRANING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 260, 3 November 1941, Page 7

ARMIES HAVE SPENT WEEKS IN TRANING.

MIDDLE EAST SECTOR British Forces At Pitch Of Preparedness United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. noon. CAIRO, Nov. 2. While the past month has been a ? ,P er i°d on the widelv-spaced land fronts of the Middle East, it nas not been an idle one. The Imperial armies in position in an ' I ra< 3> the Western Desert and Egypt have been unremittinglv preparing for whatever mav be required of them. The steady flow of reinforcements and supplies ihto H 1 ® East has brought the British forces to a pitch of preparedness which seemed impossible six months ago, and the future can be faced with sober confidence. To-day Britain presents in the Middle East a solid block to any Axis thrust and is in a position, if 'necessary, to take the initiative. In the Western Desert the Army of the Nile, which halted the German drive to the Suez on the Egyptian frontier, has received considerable reinforcements of men and material. This army, composed of British regulars who are veterans of desert warfare, New Zealanders, South Africans and Indians, is a formidable force for whatever purpose the High Command elects to use it.

The R.A.F. has been greatly strengthened by reinforcements of personnel from the Dominions and American machines. The navy and air force have been carrying out an unremitting blitz on the Axis convoys and lines of communications.

There can be no burking the fact that supplies are reaching the Axis forces in North Africa, but instead of the steady stream General Rommel requires he is only getting a trickle. QUIET AT TOBRUK Bad Visibility Restricts Operations GREATER AIR ACTIVITY British Official Wireless. Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 2. A Cairo communique states that bad visibility has restricted activity at Tobruk. There was some hostile air activity and slightly decreased shelling in the western sector. On the frontier our patrols were again active throughout the whole area. Hostile air activity in this area was on a heavier scale than normal and there was some slight enemy shelling of our positions in the coastal sector. « ABYSSINIA FRONT REMNANTS OP RESISTANCE British Official Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 2. A communique issued by the commandant at air headquarters in Nairobi states: "Ground patrols drew artillery fire from enemy positions on the Daru and Larei hills, northeast of Gondar. Natives recently attempted a dawn sortie frgm Kuliber (an isolated enemy fort east of Lake Tsana astride the Derna-Tabor-Gondar road). They were met by a voliey from patriots and forced to retire again within their defence positions. This enemy outpost is completely cut off by patriots from land communications with Gondar and is supplied only by boat across the lake, which is a precarious proceeding.

'A heavily fortified hill in the Ambazzo area was bombed and machine gunned by aircraft of the R.A.F. and South African Air Force on October 31. The results were not observed. In the area east of Gondar direct hits ivere scored on trenches and military posts by the S.A.A.F."

MILITARY MISSION

U.B. DELEGATES TO AFRICA

LONDON, Nov. 2

A Lnited States military mission, which is due in Cairo in a fortnight, is expected to make surveys for the possible landing of an American expeditionary force in Africa, savs the Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press.

This does not mean that such action has been decided upon. The aim of the mission will be to ascertain possible camp sites and climatic and hygienic conditions. It will be followed by hundreds of American civil and military technicians in connection with a vast programme in Africa under the Lease-or-Lend Act.

American activity will include not only the facilitating of an increase in supplies, but also the maintenance of American tanks and aeroplanes.