GIBRALTAR’S STRENGTH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 13

GIBRALTAR’S STRENGTH

“Key Position In Defence” (Special Correspondent LONDON, August 31. Emphasising the key position of Gibraltar if Britain was to maintain control of the narrow exit of the Western Mediterranean. as in the past, the Governor of Gibraltar. General Sir Gordon Macmillan said that changes at the eastern end of the Mediterranean had enhanced Gibraltar’s strategic importance in the West, says the correspondent of “The Times.” is always the possibility that in time of war Russian submarines and perhaps other craft might be* able to pass through the Dardanelles into tbeMediterranean,” said the Governor. "To counter this threat British policy, if modelled on that of the last two wars, would have required British Egypt or the Levant; but now with Turkey firmly supported it is bpped that such an entrance to the Mediterranean can be effectively prevented.

"Sh°uld the defence prove less than 100 ®er cent, successful, however, it would be as vital as ever to ensure that Russian ships which might penetrate into the Mediterranean should not get out into the Atlantic. “Therefore the need for Britain to maintain Gibraltar, blocking the narrow Western exit as strongly as in the past, remains as important as.ever.” General Macmillan, who was speaking at a defence parade, discussed Britain’s decision to withdraw from the Suez Canal zone. . He said that for many years it had seemed essential for the safeguarding of Britain's communications to the Middle and Far East to have troops on the Suez Canal to keep it open in time of war. The general strategic situation in the Mediterranean had radically changed to recent months, however. Two things had contributed to this change, e was the advent of the hydrogen bomb and the other the growing strength and solidarity of N-A-T.O. countries around the shores of the Mediterranean. “The hydrogen bomb has shown the futility of concentrating a vast quantity of military material in dumps such as that at-Tel el Kebir for the protection of which Britain has always felt troops were needed. “As for the N.A.T.O. nations, Turkey has now joined in a pact with Greece, Jugoslavia, forming a defence barrier well to the north of the Suez Canal. This means that dose defence of the canal is no longer required. Ground troops can be deployed in more effective strategic positions..”