WAR PROSPECTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24633, 14 June 1941, Page 9

WAR PROSPECTS

MIDDLE EAST FRONT BRITISH CONFIDENCE WASHINGTON, June 8. In a frank Nummary of the war position, the United States Ambassador to Britain, Mr J. G. Winant, who is now in America, said yesterday that the British were “reasonably confident” regarding the outcome in the Middle East. ' / He added that the position regarding the Battle of the Atlantic was “encouraging” and that the British still believed they had air superiority over the Channel and the dangerous invasion points in the south of England. Mediterranean Defences Mr Winant’s statements were made during a discussion with the Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, the Assistant Secretary of State. Mr Sumner Welles, and four senators. His points were:— (1) The British are reasonably confident regarding the struggle they expect to develop soon in the Mediterranean basin. They have a good force in the Middle East, and it is fairly well equipped. They think they have a pretty good chance of holding Egypt and the Suez canal. This is not Mr Winant’s opinion, but that of those charged with the direction of the Middle East campaign. (2) Gibraltar is ready to withstand any conceivable land attack. One of the few weaknesses of the fortresslack of a dependable supply of drinking water —has been removed. Fewer Sinkings (3) The United States patrol system in the Atlantic is beginning to help. British sinkings' have fallen recently, and while the losses are still serious the situation is encouraging. (4) The British believe, in spite of the relentless battering of the Luftwaffe, that they still hold air superiority over the English Channel and the dangerous points in England. In this regard the senators were impressed . with a particular phrase of Mr Winant’s. He is quoted as saying specifically: “The British are sure of air superiority over the near invasion ports—over the area from Portsmouth around the Kentish corner to London, but perhaps are not so confident of the air position should an invasion come from the north against Scotland or around the back door from Brittany into ports extending from Falmouth to Bristol and Liverpool.” (5) Mr Churchill’s position is unimpaired by the events in Greece and Crete. «