MIDDLE EAST

Evening Star, Issue 24139, 9 March 1942, Page 5

MIDDLE EAST

BRITAIN'S WAR STRATEGY POSITION BETTER THAN BEFODE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. -March 6. The inseparability of the present Middle, Kast problems—military, economic, and political—was deary shown by the Minister of State Supervising Production. Mr Oliver Lyttelton, in a comprehensive survey of the task he was called upon to do as Minister of State in Cairo. Air Lyttelton recently returned to this country to take charge of the whole field of production here. He emphasised first that, contrary to the impression gained by the public, Kield-Alarshal Rommel’s advance to the eastern areas of Cyrcnaica in no way increased the threat to Egypt. In fact, the initial British advance to the Jedabaya-Agheila area set back Rommel’s plans to an extent not generally appreciated. At Bardia the British captured his main supplies, including between 50,000 and 100,000 tons of ammunition. which Rommel was massing for an assault on Egypt, and the British are now in a far better defensive position than before. “ The British have, it is true, suffered a technical defeat.” said Mr Lyttelton, “ but this involves a geographical loss out. of all proportion to the strategic loss. There are only two focal points of operations in Cyrcnaica, one in the Bardia-Sollum area and the other in the JedabayaAgheila area, and Rommel, in the former area, is now practically in the same position as the British were in the latter area, except that his striking force for offensive purposes has heeu materially lessened in the course of the campaign. LIFELINES.

•“ The fundamental object of the British campaigns ip North Africa is the protection of the two great lifelines of supply—the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. This object we are achieving. The North African campaign has forced the Germans to withdraw, among other supplies, one complete air fleet from the Russian front. This has without a doubt contributed to the Russian successes. which have removed the threat to the Persian Gulf via Iraq and Iran. Thus the military operations are indivisible.

“ I have left my task incomplete,” said Mr Lyttelton. “ but an organisation has been built up in the Middle East which is now working smoothly,”

FREE FRENCH RAID ENEMY POSITION IN NORTH AFRICA CAPTURES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 7. Italian prisoners and much material fell into Allied hands when an enemy position at Fezzan, in North Africa, was captured. Announcing this, the Free French headquarters in Loudon states that the motorised forces which made the capture were under General le Clero, who commands the Free French forces in Chad, the northernmost territory in Free French Africa. Chad has a common frontier with Libya, and forces from here have already made similar raids on a smaller scale. AFRICAN SUPPLY LINES AXIS PLANS INTERFERED WITH LONDON, March 8. A Cairo message discloses* that the Free French mechanised forces which penetrated from Lake Chad territory into southern Tripoli advanced by night, taking cover during the day. They covered 1,200 miles from their base and back. They created considerable havoc in Italian positions, capturing three posts. Many Italians were killed and a number taken prisoner. Weapons and materials were destroyed. ■ It is believed that the attack has interfered with Axis plans for an attack on the African supply lines. ALLEGED MISUSE BY SPAIN, FINLAND, AND VICHY (Rec. 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 6. The ‘ New York Post’s 1 Washington correspondent charges the Spanish, Finnish, and Vichy Embassies at Washington with misusing diplomatic facilities. The correspondent alleges that the Embassies continuously, by radio and code, sent vital military information to the Axis, including departures and routes of ships. A message from Rio de Janiero says the authorities arrested the German Consul, Karl Kaiser, on a charge of espionage for the Nazis.

IMPRISONMENT OF DUTCHMEN NAZI REPRISALS (Rec. 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. Five hundred Dutchmen were imprisoned near Amsterdam following the discovery of time bombs in houses occupied by Dutch Nazis, says tbe Dutch newspaper ‘ Vrij Nederland,’ which is published in London. It is known that six Dutchmen have been shot, two for participating in the killing of a German soldier, two for possession of arms, and two for espionage. THAI CABINET RESIGNS LONDON, March 8. The Thai Cabinet resigned yesterday and the Japanese authorities have instructed Luang Songgram to form a provisional Government. The Japanese say that a change in government was made necessary owing to present conditions in Thailand, ORDERED TO RETURN ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR TO BERLIN (Rec. 8 a.m.) BUENOS AIRES, March 8. The Government has ordered tho Argentine Ambassador to Berlin, Senor Jliceardo Olivers, to return to the Argentine. No explanation is offered!.