STATEMENT SOON

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 5

STATEMENT SOON

PROGRESS OF THE WAR Rec. 11.20 a.m. RUGBY, January 18. Reviving to a questioner in. tne House of Commons, who asked if he could make a statement on the progress of operations m Italy, Mr. Churchill said he would like in the near future to make a statement to the House about the general Progress of the war, including Italy, but he would ask for more latitude about the Captain Plugge what steps he was taking to reduce some of his official burdens with a view to conserving his health, Mr. Churchill replied "I am obliged to my honourable friend for his solicitude, but I have no changes at present to propose. MrT Churchill was received in audience by the King at Buckingham Palace and remained for lunch with his further details of Mr. Churchill's recent movements which are now given show that he arrived at Carthage from Cairo on December 11, meaning to stay a day or so with General Eisenhower before visiting the Italian front However, he was taken ill, and only on December 27 had he sufficiently recovered to make the air journey. On that day he flew over the Atlas Mountains to Marrr>:esh, where he had been invited by the American High Command to spend his convalescence. A villa with a beautiful garden, kept by the American authorities for the use of distinguished guests, was placed at his disposal. It was the same villa where he stayed with Mr. Roosevelt after the Casablanca conference. Though Mr. Churchill remained constantly in touch with London and affairs of State, he spent as much time as possible out of doors. Leaving the villa at about noon, it was his practice to motor with Mrs. Churchill and his daughter, Section-Officer Oliver, Lord Moran, and members of his staff and lunch in an olive grove or by the side of a mountain stream. On one occasion he drove high into the mountains above the snow line and left his car at various points to admire the scenery.' Even on days when he did not go for a picnic the weather was such that he could lunch in the garden of the villa. Lord Beaverbrook was with Mr. Churchill throughout his visit. Generals Montgomery, Eisenhower, and Bedell Smith visited him at the villa, as well as General Georges. Dr. Benes, and the Russian Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, Mr. Lebedev, remained for a iiight en route to England. Other visitors included General Maitland Wilson, General Alexander, Mr, Duff Cooper, Mr. Harold Macmillari, and General de Gaulle.—-8.0.W. ___