BIG NEAR EAST FORCE ■

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21574, 9 February 1940, Page 7

BIG NEAR EAST FORCE ■

Ready For Any

Emergency

Enemy May Attempt Drive

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, February 7. The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times” (Mr G. H. Archambault) states: ‘News reaches Paris via Rome of nervousness in the Middle East, with Iran and Afghanistan taking military precautions in the expectation of a Russian-German drive towards the Persian Gulf. "There is significance in the Italian conclusion that the Allies have important armed forces in the Near East ready for any situation, and even for action in the direction of the Caucasus, which is Germany’s principal source of petroleum. “At present the Allies have two distinct military organisations in the Near and Middle East. "The first is in the French mandate commanded by General Weygand, comprising all the troops in Syria and Lebanon. These were recently reinforced and equipped with an adequate air force and mechanised formations. Since the Allies are masters of the Mediterranean, there is no difficulty in assuring supplies and further reinforcements from North Africa. "The' second is the British Army in £he Middle East, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Wavell. The command extends over wide areas of the Middle East and Africa, and acts in liaison with the air commands in Iraq and at Aden. In addition, a military mission links the Egyptian army and important Indian units training in Egypt. It is reasonable to suppose that eventually unity Of command is envisaged. "Thanks to foresight and early military diplomatic preparations, the army in the Orient can count on adequate bases —not confined to Egypt, as in the Great War. Its supplies of reinforcements from home can come via Beirut and the Dardanelles. while the Persian Gulf is available for supplies and reinforcements from Australia and India. "Consequently it can cope with the situation when and where it develops on the Eastern Front.” "Army of the Deserts" Britain’s “Army of the Deserts,” the second largest force in the Empire, will lie on parade to-day. reports a message from Cairo. General Weygand will take the salute at the march past. These highly trained troops of the mobile mechanised units of the Middle East Allied forces are capable of dealing with any emergency.