STOP PRESS NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21415, 8 May 1941, Page 6

STOP PRESS NEWS

MR CHURCHILLS SPEECH WAR SITUATION REVIEWED LONDON. May 7 In his speech in the House of Commons Mr Winston Churchill said: “The Germans, as we know from an examination of prisoners, had no expectation of proceed.ng beyond Agad Abio in the Libyan campaign. They meant to engage our armoured troo'ps so as to prevent the despatch of reinforcement, to Greece, while bringing up larger forces. BV when they won their surprising success they expi cited it with that organised taV Irt, and pressed on against Tobruk, where they met hard and heavy resistance. They came into contact also with the large force guarding Egypt, and there for the moment they have stopped. As long as the Germans have superiority in armoured vehicles they will have an advantage in desert warfare, even if, , ,u- -, r fo-ces arc about as at present, the air io. equal. “But this warfare must be conducted only bv small forces. Thirty or forty thousand is the most that can be fed and supplied in the desert and it is very doubtful whether even this number can be maintained. For the invasion of Egypt in great force, such as Italy contemplated, enormous preparations would have to be made. Incidentally the deserts -f Egypt are the worst in the world for armoured vehicles. Here the enemy is confronted with a far harder problem than anything he has so far solved in Africa..” Turning to Ira.. Mr Churchill said: “So long ago as last May the Foreign Office began to ask for troops *to guard the lines of communication. We had not got the troops and it was difficult to make headway against the pro-Axis intrigues of Raschid AI i, who had staged a military revolt against the lawful Regent and the lawful Government. Obviously his object was to have all ready for the Germans. However, in this case the British Government forestalled h7m, and three weeks ago strong British forces, which were being continually reinforced from India, wore landed at Basra and have assumed control. “Having assented to the first stage of these events, Raschid Ali was led into more violent courses. For about the position at. Habbaniyah. We have, however, reinforced the Air Force from Egypt and Palestine CHEESE CONTRACT WELLINGTON, Thursday The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, announced that advice had been received that the Food Ministry of Britain was prepared to make a contract with the New Zealand Government for 160,000 tons of cheese for the 1941-42 production season. He said that the production of such a large quantity meant considerable re-organisation within the dairy industry, and he was sure the dairy farmers would again rise to the occasion. HAWERA RACES Egnftont Steeplechase: 5—5 Riotous, 1; 6 —6 Ruling Star, 2; 2—l Dozie Boy, 3. Scr: Kaiwaka, Iddo, Disturbed, Mia Acria, Car Leaf. Hack Scurry.—Sunny Knight, 1 ; Salvation, 2; Parlato, 3. Scr.: Valiant Lady, Golden Pam, Mmvaa!, Taitama, Teasoff.