AIR CONTROL OF MEDITERRANEAN

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23799, 19 November 1942, Page 5

AIR CONTROL OF MEDITERRANEAN

ALLIED SUPREMACY PREDICTED LONDON. Nov. 17. The correspondent of the “New York Times” with advanced Royal Air Force headquarters in Africa (Mr Drew Middleton), interviewed Air Marshal Sir William Welsh, who expressed the opinion that the campaign for air control in the Mediterranean was nearing its close. The day was not far distant when the entire Mediterranean would be open to shipping of the United Nations, thereby enabling the Allies to mount further offensives. He was certain that the success of the preliminary landings in Algeria and Oran was the result of surprise, which explained why the first day of the Allied landings in Algeria was almost unnoticed by the Luftwaffe, and when the Nazis woke up strong Allied fighter forces had already arrived at vital airports. “The Luftwaffe undoubtedly will 'return and bomb Algiers from Sicily and Sardinia, but such an attack would be extremely costly in view of the wealth of Allied flak protection concentrated in the city.” said Air Marshal Welsh. He concluded: “The Allied adventure in Africa caught the Nazis napping. Now they are fighting defensively, and with God's grace we will give them a good hiding.”