MIDDLE EAST TASK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20708, 7 March 1942, Page 5

MIDDLE EAST TASK

AXIS HAMPERED PROBLEMS EXPLAINED WIDE ISSUES INVOLVED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Asbji.) (British Official Wireless.) (Noon.) RUGBY, Mai'. C. The inseparability of the present Middle Eastern problems—military, economic, and political—was clearly shown by Captain Oliver Lyttelton, in a comprehensive survey of the task he was called upon to do as Minister of State in Cairo.

Captain Lyttelton recently returned to this country to take charge of the whole field of production here. lie emphasised, first, that, contrary to the impression gained by the public, General Rommel’s advance to the eastern areas of Cyrenaica in nowise

increased the threat to Egypt. In fact, the initial British advance to the Jedabaya-Agheila area set back General Rommel’s plans to an extent not generally appreciated. At Bardia. the British captured the main supplies—including between 50,000 and 100,000 tons of ammunition —which General Rommel was massing for the assault on Egypt and are now in a far better defensive position than before.

“The British have, it is true, sustained a technical defeat,” he said, “but this involves a gegographical loss out of all proportion to the strategic loss. There are only two focal points of operations in Cyrenaica. one in the B.trdia-Sollum area and the other in ihe Jedabaya-Agheila area, and General Rommel in the former area is now practically in the same position as the British were in the latter area except that this striking force, for offensive purposes, has been materially lessened in the course of the campaign.

Protection of Life-Lines “One fundamental object of the British campaigns in North Africa is the protection of the two great life lines 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 doubt contributed to the Russian successes which have removed the threat to the Persian Gulf via Taq and Iran. Thus military operations are indivisible.”

But Captain Lyttelton’s chief task has been the organisation of the entire Middle East as a group of self-sup-porting countries and this has been substantially furthered by military operations both in North Africa and Russia.

Self-Supporting Basis Britain is now more or less in occupation or control of a large number of countries in the Middle East and her methods are completely different from those of the Nazis. The latter strip the country of everything—Greece is an outstanding example—whereas Britain organises the countries on a self-supporting basis.

The importance of safeguarding the great supply lines is seen in the fact that by this means the British Government has been able to pour through them large quantities of wheat to repair the deficiency caused by last year’s poor harvest throughout the Middle East as a whole.

In Cyprus, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, and Persia there is at the present time a “minus” wheat position, but Britain has been able to alleviate the shortage and in some cases to remove it altogether. “I have left my task incomplete,” said Captain Lyttelton, “but an organisation has been built up in the Middle East which is now working smoothly.”