GROWING POWER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20385, 23 October 1940, Page 11

GROWING POWER

BRITISH FORCES MIDDLE EAST ZONE GRAZIANI’S PROBLEMS PLENTY OF DIFFICULTIES APPROACHING CLASH (Elec. Tel, Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 22, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 21. The British air forces in the Middle East are being strengthened, it is confirmed in official quarters in London. It was made clear that this increase in strength in the Middle East was additional to and not at the expense of the expansion at home. It has been made possible by the growth of aircraft production and by supplies now becoming available from the United States.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Lloyd, in a speech, said: “Marshal Graziani has plenty of difficulties in Egypt. The army confronting him is eager for early contact with Signor Mussolini’s bravados. The day when we will be able to take the offensive is approaching steadily.” The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that the British Secretary of State for War, Mr. Anthony Eden, inspected New Zealand, Australian and other units before going to Palestine. Many Convoys Many convoys of troops and nurses have arrived in the Near East since the recent visit to England by the British Commander-in-Chief, General Sit Archibald Wavell. The British force in the Western’ Desert has been considerably increased and supplied with modern equipment. Mr. Eden’s principal object during his visit was to discover additional needs. A Cairo communique states that the situation was to-day quiet on all fronts. An Italian communique states: “A patfol on the Eritrean border forced a British armoured unit to retire.” • The communique Claims that during the raids on the island of Perim on October 17 two British warships were slink. “The Royal Air Force bombed Decamere, damaging barracks and killing one and injuring 11'persons,” adds the Italian announcement. Fascist Party Hopes Special speakers of the Fascist Party yesterday addressed big gatherings of Black Shirts in public in principal Italian cities, explaining the Italian version of the causes of the war and reaffirming the determination to “continue the struggle until final victory.” A San Francisco message states that the Standard Oil Company reports minor damage from the Italian bombing of Bahrein Island. A water-main and oil pipe-line were broken. The buildings and refineries were not hit. There were no fires.