IMPERIAL ARMIES PREPARED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 7

IMPERIAL ARMIES PREPARED

In Position To Take Initiative FORCES IN MIDDLE EAST (Received November 3, 7 p.m.) (UP.A.) CAIRO. November 2. While the last month has been a quiet period on the widely-spaced land front of the Middle East, it has not been an idle one. The Imperial armies in position in Syria. Iran, Iraq, the Western Desert and Egypt have been unremittingly preparing for .whatever may be required of them. A steady flow of reinforcements and supplies into the Middle 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 Suez on the Egyptian frontier has received considerable reinforcements of men and material. This army is composed of British regulars who are veterans of desert warfare, New Zealanders. South Africans, and Indians, and is a formidable force for whatever purpose the High Command elects to use it. The Royal Air Force has been greatly strengthened by reinforcements of personnel from the Dominions and by American machines. The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force have been carrying out an unremitting blitz on Axis convoys and lines of communication. There can be no ignoring the fact that supplies are reaching the Axis forces in North Africa, but instead of the steady stream General von Rom-, mel requires he is getting only a trickle. Restricted Activity at Tobruk A Cairo communique states that bad visibility has restricted activity at Tobruk. There has been gome hostile air activity and slightly - decreased shelling in* the western sector. On the frontier British patrols are again active throughout the whole area. Hostile air activity in this area has been on a heavier scale than usual, and there has been some slight enemy shelliqg of the British positions in the PrtQct cpptnr A communique issued by the commandant at Air Headquarters, Nairobi, states: "Ground patrols drew artillery fire from enemy positions oh the Daru and Larei Hills, north-east of Gondar, in Abyssihia, where natives recently attempted a dawn sortie from Kuliber (an isolated enemy fort east of Lake Tsana, astride of the Debra TaborGondar road). . “They were met by patriots, and forced to retire again within their 'defences. 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 precarious. "A heavily-fortified hill in the Ambazzo area was bombed and machinegunned by aircraft of the Royal Air Force and South African Air 'Force on Friday. The results were not observed. In the area east of Gondar direct hits were scored on trenches and military posts by the South, African Air Force."

WAVELL ARRIVES IN SINGAPORE CONFERENCES WITH BROOKE-POPHAM LONDON, November 2. General Sir Archibald Wavell, Com* mander-in-Chief in India, has arrived by air at Singapore from, Rangoon. He

will confer with Sir Robert BrbokePopham, Commander-in-Chief in the Far East. Sir Robert Brooke-Popham > has recently returned from visits to Australia and the Netherlands East Indies.

AMERICAN SHIPPING IN WAR ZONES PREDICTION BY SENATOR WHEELER WASHINGTON. November 3. Senator B. K. Wheeler, the leading isolationist, said in a press interview that if Congress repealed the shipping restrictions in the Neutrality Act, the President “will undoubtedly ; start convoying and sending our ships to Liverpool and whatever other ports in England are open. "More of our ships will be sunk, and more of our sailors drowned,” he said. “A war party will be set up. There will be a hue and cry for an expeditionary force, notwithstanding the fact that we have not enough guns and tanks, or even powder, to carry on a war for any length of time.” Dr. Gallup, the founder of the American Institute of Public Opinion, in a speech at the Canadian Advertisers’ Convention in Toronto, said: “America’s attitude towards war is entirely within the framework of defence. Any thought of offence is not considered. All-out aid for Russia and England—yes—but no large expeditionary force for Europe. Two out of three United States people believe that it was wrong for the United States to enter the last war." BRITAIN’S TREATY WITH IRAQ REGENT RENEWS PLEDGE OF FULFILMENT LONDON, November 2. The Regent of Iraq, opening the session of Parliament in Bagdad, said: “I consider it my duty to thank our ally, Britain, for her proclaimed good intentions and clear promfse of independence for those Arab countries which until now have failed to obtain independence. The Government will see that the army is not made a tool in the hands of those who tried to draw it from its allegiance,” The Regent renewed his pledge to fulfil the terms of the treaty between Iraq and Britain providing help to Britain during the war.