GREAT NEW ARMY

Evening Star, Issue 24008, 6 October 1941, Page 7

GREAT NEW ARMY

MIDDLE EAST FORCES WELL-EQUIPPED WAR MACHINE A TRULY INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER (British Official Wireless.) (Rcc. 10.5 a.in.) RUGBY, Oct. 5. A Press Agency correspondent in the Middle East reports his impression that the former Amy of the Nile—now transported into three separate armies —is one of the strongest and bestequipped war machines ever seen. There Stands ready an army of an international character stretching over a front of 1,300 miles. Besides British troops there are assembled, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, and Greeks, The latter will shortly be increased by the mobilisation of all Greeks on the Mediterranean and African seaboards. There are also detachments of Roles and Czecho-Slovaks. In Syria, the Free French, since the adhesion of 6,000 metropolitan troops and over 13,000 Asiatics and Africans who have forsaken Vichy, now have an army far superior and doubled in strength since the Allied occupation of Syria. India is also constantly sending reinforcements. What with the Palestinians forming new battalions and the Air Force being reinforced by Czechs, Yugoslavs, Americans, Canadians, Danes, Belgians, South Africans, and even Fijians, “ one might change the name of the Army of the Nile to the Army of Liberty.” Munitions, tanks, armoured cars, and lorries are seen emerging from all directions, and convoys are now invading the caravan routes, which were formerly considered the sole domain of Bedouins and camels. New aerodromes are seen everywhere in the Western Desert.

NORTH AFRICAN FRONTS

ENERGETIC TOBRUK PATROLS CASUALTIES INFLICTED ON ENEMY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. A British General Headquarters Cairo communique states that under cover of artillery fire our patrols from Tobruk yesterday carried out several successful raids. In the eastern sector the enemy was forced to evacuate strong points, while in another sector our patrols destroyed enemy dumps of ammunition. In other areas considerable casualties were inflicted on the enemy. The enemy retaliated later with heavy machine-gun fire, but this was silenced quickly by our artillery and mortars. In the frontier area enemy patrols were engaged and driven back. EFFECTIVE BRITISH SHELLING HANGARS AND DUG-OUTS DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY October 4. Some activity is reported from North Africa, where during the night of October 1 there was air and artillery activity by the enemy and the British forces shelled enemy positions opposite Ras el Medawar and destroyed some hangars and dug-outs and caused three heavy explosions. Patrols carried out reconnaissances deep into enemy positions. In the frontier area on the night of September 30 a party of about 30 of the enemy raided a forward observation post. There were no British casualties. There was some enemy shelling about three miles and a-half to the south-east of Halfaya Pass, in the area of Bir Siweiyat. Ten enemy aircraft raided Mersa Matruh on the night of October 1, but there were no British casualties. Fourteen enemy aircraft dropped incendiaries on the landing ground at Qasaba, but no damage was done. From Abyssinia there are reports of strongly-occupied enemy positions astride the Amba Georgis-Gondar road. The area to the south of Dcbarech has been heavily mined.

AIR ACTIVITY BENGHAZI AND BARDIA BOMBED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states that on the nights of October 1 and 2 Benghazi was raided by heavy bombers of the R.A.F. Direct hits were registered on the Juliana and the Cathedral moles, and bombs also fell among ships in the harbour. On these raids our aircraft also machine-gunned motor transports between Tokra and Barce and at Gazala. Bardia was also raided on successive nights. The first raid was carried out by naval aircraft, and as the result of their bombing two large fires were started, and considerable damage was done to motor transport and stores. A motor transport park some miles outside the town was machine-gunned. In the second raid, the jetty was attacked and camps on the Tobruk-Bardia road were machine-gunned. Aircraft of the South African Squadron also raided Bardia in day time. Our fighters have been active, and in one engagement in the Sidi area Tomahawks, piloted by South Africans, damaged several Messerschmitt 109’s. Four of our aircraft are missing from the operations carried out during the period under review. ENEMY RAIDERS EARLY NIGHT ATTACK (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 5. Early last night a very small number of raiders flew over an area on the east coast of England. A few bombs were dropped.. There was slight damage, and one person was injured.

TANKER TORPEDOED

AMERICAN-OWNED VESSEL NEAR SCENE OF ROBIN MOOR SINKING NEW YORK, October 3. The American-owned tanker I. O, White, registered at Panama, was torpedoed 450 miles cast of Recife on August 27. Thirty-four members of the all-American crew of 41 were rescued—--18 by the Westuilus and 16 by the Mor-' macrey. The Standard Oil Company, New Jersey, owner of the tanker, said that the sinking occurred near the same area as that in which the Robin Moor was torpedoed. WAS TRANSFERRED TO BRITAIN ONLY 18 OF CREW RESCUED WASHINGTON, October 4. The Standard Oil Company announced that the vessel was transferred to the British six months ago, and pending the transfer of flags fc was operated by the Panama Transport’Company. The ship sailed under British direction, though it had an all-American crew, lb now appears that only 18 have been rescued so far. Commenting on the sinking, Mr Cordell Hull said: “ This seems to be another act of lawlessness piracy and attempted fright, fulness in connection with the general movement to drive people off the Atlantic, which is part of the world movement of conquest.” SEARCH FDR RAIDER POWERFUL UNITS OF U.S. NAVY RIO DE JANEIRO, October 5. Powerful units of the American fleefi are operating over a wido area off the bulge of Brazil searching for the Axis raider or submarine responsible for the sinking of the tanker I. C. White. • Unconfirmed reports to-night reached Rio stating that a naval battle had occurred off Marogogipe, in the State of Bahia. There are no details. INFLUENCE ON NEUTRALITY ACT CHANCES OF CHANGE INCREASED WASHINGTON, (Rec. 1.35 p.m.) Oct. 5. The Administration leaders consider that the sinking of the I. C. White materially increased Congressional support for any changes in the Neutrality Act President Roosevelt may suggest. Supporters of the President’s foreign policy described the sinking as another link in the chain justifying revision or even the outright repeal of the Neutrality Act. Senator Bloom commented: £ favour complete repeal of the Neutrality Act. The sinking of the 1. C. White shows that there is no respect for ships anywhere. It might have been sunk in the,Potomac River.” It is now stated that 34 of the L> C. White’s crew were rescued. ■

AMERICA AND THE WAR

ENTRY A NECESSITY VKEWS OF FIELD-MARSHAL SMUTS LONDON, October 4. The Pretoria correspondent of the British United Press reports that Field-Marshal Smuts, who was interviewed, said that the United States would soon be in a shooting war. There was a danger if the United States stayed out that the war would be prolonged until all the re- • sources of the democracies were exhausted. Germany would never win. Britain would not be defeated, but that was quite different from winning the war. Field-Marshal Smuts added that the entry of the United States was necessary to win the last war, and it was necessary now. America could not merely stand on. the sidelines and chccr the Allies on. She must come in, U.S. NEUTRALITY ACT EFFORTS AT REVISION FINAL DECISION THIS WEEK WASHINGTON, October 4. The President said that an effort would be made to revise the Neutrality Act, but that the final decision would not be reached until after the conference nest Tuesday with Senate leaders. The arming of 1 American merchantmen was forbidden by the Neutrality Act. and the statute was so definite on this point that it would not be right to try to wriggle from it. The definite policy of the Congress on the whole problem of neutrality law would be threshed out at Tuesday’s conference, which would be attended by both Democratic and Re- 1 publican leaders.

BRITISH PLANE PRODUCTION

A RECORD MONTH OVER 12,000 MACHINES FOB YEAR LONDON, Oct. 5. The Office of Production Manage, ment announced that military aircraft manufacturers delivered 1,914 plane# in September, a record. Tins brings the year’s total so far to 12,650. Mr Churchill has sent the followin'; message to the Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Reavorbrook: —“T should like you to convey to all tb<|se working on ’ aircraft production in all its branches my thanks and congratulations on last month’s record output; never has the need been more important for both ourselves and our Russian ally. Pilots are ready, and I am sure you will deliver the goods,”