INDIA AND WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1941, Page 7

INDIA AND WAR

EVER-GROWING PART

ARMY SUPPLIES

MANOEUVRES ON THE

FRONTIER

LONDON, October 6.

The first meeting of the National Defence Council in Simla underlines India's ever-growing contribution to the war effort.

A message from Mr. Churchill was read by General Wavell. It emphasised that large supplies of the deadliest weapons of modern warfare will now pour from India to meet the needs of Britain's expanding armies.

The sons of India had already shown themselves worthy of the highest honour and respect among fighting men, said the Prime Minister. In Cyrenaica, the Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, and Iran the Indian Division had played an important and distinguished part.

-Mr. Churchill declared that in 1942 the armies of India, with their British comrades, would be barring the eastward progress of the enemy from the Caspian Sea to the Nile.

The significance of the meeting was stressed by the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, who said that for the first time representatives of the Indian States and British India were discussing India's vital war effort together. India was the centre of the*-- great supply organisation serving the vital military needs of countries ranging from Australia to South Africa.

Large-scale manoeuvres on the North-West Frontier of India were scheduled to begin tomorrow.. However, the invading forces followed the Nazi strategy closely and today launched surprise air attacks on five railway stations before a formal, declaration of war. These invasion jxercises will last for eight days. It is said in Simla that the troops are being prepared for a vast offensive which will one day be launched against the enemy.