LANDING CRAFT FOR INVASION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 5

LANDING CRAFT FOR INVASION

ADDITIONAL OUTPUT NEEDED BIG EFFORT IN UNITED STATES London, Jan. 9. Some 45,000 additional landing craft must be comQjeted quickly in the United States to ensure success of the European invasion, the dates for which have already been set, said the Under-Secretary of the United States Navy, Mr Forrestal, speaking in Washington. One fourth of the total navy expenditure for this year will be devoted to landing craft, he said. DUTIES ASSUMED General Sir H. Maitland Wilson on Saturday assumed duty as Supreme Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean theatre. General Jacob Devers has assumed duty as Deputy Supreme Commander. Lieut.-General Gammell, who has been Chief of the British Eastern Command since 1942. is appointed Chief of Staff in the Mediterranean.

Major-General Bedell Smith will become Chief of Staff to General Eisenhower in the United Kingdpm. He was till recently Chief of Staff of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and he signed the Italian armistice agreement on behalf of General Eisenhower. GENERAL PAGET IN MIDDLE EAST (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) Rugby, Jan. 10. A Cairo message states that General Sir Bernard Paget, new Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, has arrived and taken over from General Sir Maitland Wilson, who has been appointed Com-mander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean theatre.