HUGE ARMY

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22246, 15 January 1944, Page 7

HUGE ARMY

READY FOR OFFENSIVE PERSIA AND IRAQ FORCE The Persia and Iraq force, a powerful Allied Army, stands ready lor action in the IVliadie East. Its strength and prospects, with particular reference to tne threat held over tne Balkans, are discussed by Edmund Stevens in the Christian Science Monitor, in a review of the many Aided concentration sectors. In the past year, he writes, a mighty potential invasion force has assembled in tiie heart of the Middle East, in Iraq and the neighbouring territory of Syria and Persia, the area drained by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the cradle and graveyard of ancient empires. It is known officially as the Persia and Iraq Force, conveniently abbreviated to “PAI Force,” and includes the British 9th and 10th Armies plus large and small units of many nations. Compared with the armies in the United Kingdom, the PAI Force is a newcomer. Not much more than a year ago the sprawling area at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, rich in oil and political intrigue, was a military vacuum. As the then victorious Rommel pushed ahead, the British decided to stake everything on holding the Nile Valley. To bolster the beaten Eighth Army they virtually stripped Syria, Palestine and Iraq of troops. Had Rommel reached Suez he would have encountered little opposition from there on. Task of First Defensive After the Afrifca Korps had been held at El Alamein, and the Middle Easi: and perhaps the whole Allied cause was saved by a hair-breadth, the British promptly went about building the PAI Force into something more than a token army. At first its tasks were entirely defensive. It was to meet possible thrusts from two directions., from Egypt, in case Rommel renewed his offensive, or from the Caucasus if the Germans broke through there. But gradually, as these dangers dwindled and Allied fortunes mended everywhere, the PAI Force passed from defensive to. planning for offensive. In the past year men and material have poured into the area continuously. The long convoys of troop transports and freight vessels steam iup the Persian Gulf and anchor in the sluggish waters of the Shatt-el-Arab off Basra awaiting their turn to discharge their cargoes. For many miles across the flat desert beyond the fringe of coconut palms, the forest of masts anad funnels is visible, strangely elongated by the desert mirage, floating above the seemingly unbroken emptiness, since the river is hidden from view. From Basra the tanks and other armaments are shipped north either by rail or barges up the Tigris and Euphrates. Mixed Elements The composition or the P.A.I. Force is quite mixed. The larg-est single contingent is about 500,000 of the best Indian troops. There are in addition several United Kingdom elements, the Arab Legion from Transjordan, the Palestine militia and the largest contingent yet of troops representing the occupied countries of Europe. Of these the main group is a Polish Army corps of seven divisions under the coninfand of General Anders. The bulk of these Poles came out of the Soviet Union via Persia, but they also include the Carpathian brigade, which distinguished itself during the siege of Tobruk, where it held a sector of the perimeter for many months. There are in addition two brigades of Greeks and some Czech units. All these national groups are most eager to set foot on home soil and fight their way back ?to their respective homelands, and the long, arduous months or training and organisation in the sun-parched Mesopotamian desert Ijave heightened their longing for something cleaner and greener in the way of scenery. The French rorces in Syria also came under tlie P.A.I. Command. Paralleling the development Of the land forces, the Royal Air Force in the same area has grown from an odd collection of obsolete training planes a year ago into an army capable of providing ample air support for large-scale invasion operations. There are also units of the United states Army Air Force serving in the area. . Despite its newness, the P.A.I. Force contains a high percentage of seasoned troops, such as the professional Indian units' and divisions and regiments that have seen action in other theatres. Apprehension in Balkans The growth of the P.A.I. Force to its present strength causes tremendous apprehension to the Axis and their EastEuropean satellites, who fear this army may be destined for invasion of the Balkans, either through Turkey or by-passing Turkey. It is the lirst alternative that they fear most, especially in view of growing Turkish sympathy for the Allies, for this would provide the invading troops with a ready-made bridgehead in Europe, within easy striking distance of the Danube valley and the \ Rumanian oilfields. in Britain the oldest invasion army has not grown any smaller In the time since the spotlight of pr.e-invasion speculation —which it once monopolised—moved to other- areas. The original 2,000,000 or more United Kingdom troops that garrisoned the isles in the days when Hitler was expected to invade are still essentially intact. Some divisions have been sent from time to time from the United Kingdom to other war theatres, mainly the Middle East and .North Africa, hut the gaps have probably been more than refilled by the classes that have attained military age in the interim. The Canadians are there and so are the Americans, in steadily increasing numbers.

The Axis generals must also reckon with the possibility of simultaneous blows being struck from other points. Thus the Americans in Iceland may strike at Norway, while various points in Libya and Egypt or the island of Cyprus may serve as bases for attacks on the Greek mainland, Crete or the Dodecanese. •

Pending the launching of an invasion of Europe the Allies are in a fine position to exploit the “war or nerves” to the utmost. By keeping the Nazis guessing where the blow will fall they make them spread their forces thinly over the widest possible areas. Uncertainty and suspense prevent the Nazis from adopting deflnilo plans of attack or defence.