MORE VICTORIES YET FOR EIGHTH ARMY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 3

MORE VICTORIES YET FOR EIGHTH ARMY

CHURCHILL'S HOPE —__ Premier Ends Historic 10,000-Mile Trip British Official Wireless Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 7. Mr. "Churchill has returned to London after his visits to Casablanca, Adana, Cyprus and the Middle East, which have taken him abroad for nearly a month. At Paddington station he was met by Cabinet Ministers, members of Parliament, the Turkish Ambassador, the High Commissioners and many high officers. The keenest expectancy has been aroused by the Staff conferences with American, French and Turkish leaders, but although there is hope that Mr. Churchill may be able to say something about them in Parliament, it is realised that their exact significance will not be revealed until the decisions taken have been translated into action. According to a fuller account of Mr. Churchill's speech to the Eighth Army, he emphasised that their part had played a decisive role in altering the whole character of the war. Their arrival in Tripoli during the Casablanca conference was a new factor which influenced the course of the 1 discussions and opened hopeful vistas for the future. Along the east coast of Tunisia were large numbers of German and Italian troops not yet equipped to the previous standard, but growing stronger. On the other side another great operation, planned in conjunction with the Eighth Army's advance, carried the Allies to within 30 miles of Bizerta. In Tunis, therefore, a military situation arose which everyone could understand. He assured the Eighth Army that the days of their victories- were by no means at an end. They could hope to achieve the final destruction or expulsion from the shores of Africa of every armed German and Italian. Flight In Special Plane Though Mr. Churchill, on arrival in London, had completed his latest historic journey by train, most of the 10,000 miles had been flown in a specially adapted Liberator, fittingly named Commando, bearing on its nose the "milestone" of his recent travels with the Turkish Crescent now added to the Hammer and Sickle which commemorated the Moscow, visit last year.' There was a spectacular scene as Mr. Churchill arrived at the appointed R.A.F. airfield. Suddenly- - over the airfield flew a squadron of Spitfires weaving, circling and swooping past the giant Liberator. As the Liberator touched down to a perfect landing the squadron went over in close formation, and, finally, as Mr. Churchill stepped out, they roared over, very low and in perfect formation, dipping as they went in a parting salute. This particular escort had picked xrp Mr. Churchill's aircraft when it reached the English coast. He was welcomed officially by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal and by an air officer commanding the group and the station commander: On the. homeward trip Mi\ Churchill, as usual,- spent some ■ time with the crew on the bridge, and for about half an hour after the-take-off sat with the pilot, Captain van der Kloot, an American, who had taken him on so many previous journeys. Landfall On Time" Mr. Churchill, however, retired early. New sleeping accommodation had been fitted into the Liberator and he was able to settle down comfortably for the night. The weather was fine and the trip smooth. After breakfast this morning Mr. Churchill again joined the pilots for the landfall, which was made exactly to the calculated minute. He was still on the bridge when the aircraft landed. He was accompanied in the aircraft only by his staff. General Sir Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial . General Staff, had arrived some time earlier in another Liberator.