LORD LLOYD DEAD

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 6 February 1941, Page 7

LORD LLOYD DEAD

COLONIAL SECRETARY DISTINGUISHED CAREER SOLDIER AND DIPLOMAT United Pi ess Asm.—Elec. Tei. Copyrlgdt> LONDON, Feb. 5 The death of Lord Lloyd, Secretary of State for the Colonies and former High Commissioner in Egypt, occurred at midnight at the age of 61 years.

He contracted a severe chill about three weeks ago. He appeared to be recovering, but suffered a setback and went into a nursing home in London, to be attended by Lord Holder, Physician in Ordinary to the King. Lord Lloyd was appointed Colonial Secretary last May, the first time he had held a Ministerial post. During the Great War he saw service in Egypt, Gallipoli, Russia, Mesopotamia and the Herjaz, winning the D.S.O. in 1917. He came into close contact with Lawrence of Arabia. For eight years from 1910 he was Conservative M.P. for West Staffordshire, but resigned the seat when he was appointed Governor of Bombay. Returning from India in 1923 he re-entered Parliament, and resigned in 1925 to go to Egypt as High Commissioner, being raised to the peerage before he sailed. On his return to England Lord Lloyd went into the House of Lords and since then he has been a keen opponent of any measure he thought calculated to reduce British prestige in the East, or to weaken economic and strategical positions.

His heir is his son, the Hon. Alexander Lloyd, who was born in 1912. Lord Lloyd was keenly interested in the work of the British Council for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, of which he was the first president and inaugurated branches in several European capitals.

AIR AGREEMENT BRITAIN AND CANADA MORE SQUADRONS PLANNED EMPIRE SCHEME DEVELOPED i United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) OTTAWA, Feb. 5 The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, today announced a supplementary air agreement between Canada and the, United Kingdom was signed by the Minister of Defence, Colonel Ralston, in London on January 7, under which up to 25 allCanadian squadrons will be the immediate aim of Canada, under the Empire air scheme, in addition to the three Canadian squadrons at present in Britain. It was agreed that Royal Air Force officers and ground crews in Canada would be gradually replaced by Canadians when the latter were available. All Canadians trained under the scheme will wear the Canadian uniform, whether posted to Canadian squadrons or not.

Mr King said the ground personnel for the squadrons to be sent to England would at first be provided by the Royal Air Force, although later they would be replaced by Canadians. This was necessitated by Britain’s request for the concentration on production of pilots and air crews.

CAPTURE OF CYRENE BRITISH STILL ADVANCING EL GUBBA TAKEN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 5 The capture of Cyrene means that Apollonia, 12 miles to the north-north-east, will have to be abandoned by the Italians as an air base. It is believed that Cyrene was Graziani’s headquarters for his attack on Egypt. Infantry and machine-gunners are assumed to have taken El Gubba. 30 miles west from Derr a, and the last fortified town on the coastal route to Benghazi. El Gubba straddles the 50-mile main road from Derna to Cyrene. The Italians are apparently withdrawing enmasse along a parallel road from Cyrene to Barce. After fighting their way from Derna under Italian artillery fire, the British forces climbed the hillsides inland to the enemy’s level and resumed their forward drive. The troops marched afoot, with the artillery and stores in the rear. Hardly a shot was fired as far as El Gubba. the Italians preferring to rely on land mines and booby traps and the dynamiting of roads and blowing up of bridges. Royal Air Force patrols report that the Italians are believed to be retreating from Barce.

sectors in Italian Somaliland. Yes- 1 terday they attacked and captured an enemy post 45 miles inside the Italian frontier. Enemy’s Version “ Italians on the northern front in East Africa.” says the communique. j “ repelled enemy forces heading for j the new Italian line of defence. 1 Native troops on the southern front ! retired from an advanced position j near the border eastwards to Lake i btefam, after a hard fight.”