ROUSING WELCOME

Evening Star, Issue 24278, 20 August 1942, Page 5

ROUSING WELCOME

MR CHURCHILL IN EGYPT VISIT TO EL ALAMEIN FRONT LONDON, August 18. Mr Churchill, when cu route to Moscow; inspected 1 the Australian and South African personnel on the El Alamein front. He walked down the road' to make an informal inspection of the Australians, to whom he gave the “ V ” sign, and received a rousing welcome. He also visited the Eighth Army headquarters, where he met brigade and divisional commanders aim l inspected gun-sites. Mr Churchill's visit to Cairo is summarised in the following official statement: ‘“Mr Churchill arrived in Cairo by air recently for important tjti.scii.ssions with service chiefs and otho" tish authorities in the Middle Last. On the conclusion of his Cairo visit Mr Churchill wont to the M ostei n Desert and l passed the day with the troops on the LI Alamcin front. Among those participating in the Cairo discussions were General Smuts and General Waved. This was the first meeting since the war between Mr Churchill and General Smuts. “ During his stay in Cairo air Churchill was received in audience by King Farouk, and also by the_ Prime Minister, Nahas Pasha, in Cairo, Mr Churchill reviewed the whole situation in the Middle East with the Minister of State in the Middle East, Mr II G. Casey, and the British Ambassador, Sir Miles Lampson.”

THE MOSCOW CONVERSATIONS SPECULATION STILL RIFE LONDON, August 18. The Soviet Press presents the news of Mr Churchill’s visit as of great historical significance, reports the Stockholm correspondent of * The limes. Newspapers interpret the joint announcement as an indication that the war is entering a new phase, in which the Allies will engage their strength to : the utmost capacity against the enemy in Europe. The Moscow radio, broadcasting to Franco, said: “ The Moscow conference raises the hope of all oppressed peoples, and now is the moment to strike against the invaders in the war efforts of the Allied nations in common strategy, with all their resources pooled. The historic discussions of the Moscow conference give a new direction to Allied war strategy. France, arise and fight for liberty!” The ‘ Daily Express,’ in a leader, says: “Why is the Russian Press so suro that the Moscow talks _ have brought the hour of Allied victory nearer? They are not likely to regard the diplomatic talks as a substitute for victories in the field l . There are surer grounds for confidence. Earlier conferences all dealt with defence, but this conference was avowedly, military. It was about attack.”

MIDDLE EAST COMMAND THE HEW APPOINTMENTS LONDON, August 18. “ The public will view the changes in the Middle East army command with deep concern,” says the ‘ Daily Mail.’ “ It is said that the Germans appoint new generals more frequently, •' but we are entitled to ask why so' many of those sent to the Middle East have been found unsuitable. The conditions there call not only for experts in desert warfare, but leaders thoroughly versed in tank warfare, for which the sandy wastes of Egypt and Libya are ideai. Yet so far no soldier thoroughly grounded in mechanised experience has been appointed to any of the higher commands, and this is apparently the rule even now. To say that Generals Alexander and Montgomery are infantrymen and General Lumsden a cavalryman casts no doubt on their abilities, for all have proved themselves. They may possess the fast-moving minds essentia] for directing highspeed warfare, but we cannot ahvays proceed on the process of selection by trial and error. It has already proved far too costly.”

NEW CHIEF OF STAFF (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 19. The War Office announces that Major-general R. L. McCreery has been appointed Chief of General Staff, Middle East, succeeding Lieutenant-gene-ral T. W. Corbett. M'ajor-general McCreery is 44. He is a cavalry man who has had prolonged experience of armoured warfare, and accepts mechanised warfare without reserve. He fought through the Du irk irk campaign, was mentioned in despatches, and awarded the D.S.O. He was one of the younger' progressive generals entrusted with the formation and training o£ the new armoured divisions and armouredl brigade groups. Since last spring ho has been advisor on armoured fighting vehicles in the Middle East.

APPEAL TO BRITISH MINERS LONDON, August 18. The miners’ leaders have sent out an appeal to every coal mine for a supreme effort immediately, saying that the Executive Committee had heard from representatives of the Government a most alarming statement on the rate of coal output and the country’s needs. “We are not satisfied that all the members are doing all they can,” the appeal states. “ A second front can only come if supplies from the home front are satisfactory. If we fail democracy ceases, and authority (dictatorship) comes to rule cither from within or without.”