MR CHURCHILL RETURNS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23967, 7 June 1943, Page 5

MR CHURCHILL RETURNS

ALGIERS AND TUNIS VISITED CO-ORDINATION OF WAR PLANS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 6 Mr Churchill, who has been in North Africa, arrived back in England at daylight this morning. He visited Algiers and Tunis in the course of his trip. It is officially stated, at Allied Headquarters in North Africa that the main purpose of Mr Churchill’s visit was to work out details of a plan for striking the most powerful blow possible at the The chief of staff of the United States Army (General George C. Marshall) made it clear at a press conference in Washington that the decisions reached in Washington had been successfully co-ordinated in North Africa.

Mr Churchill will make a short statement in the House of Commons on the first day it sits. The Press Association’s Parliamentary correspondent says: “Mr Churchill may be able to inform the House of Commons that full agreement has been reached about the future conduct of the war, including the assumption of the offensive in the Far East, where operations are likely to run concurrently with the European war rather than consecutively. Soon after his return Mr Churchill began consultations with Cabinet colleagues and service chiefs'”

The correspondent understands that because of the important decisions which had to be made in Tunis after the Washington Conference, Mr Churchill felt that a pecond and senior member of the War Cabinet should be with him. Therefore, Mr Eden flew to Gibraltar. Neither he nor Mr Churchill took part in the conversations between General de Gaulle and General Giraud which resulted in the settingup of a united French central authority in Algiers. A commentator broadcasting from Algiers said that Mr Churchill had talks in North Africa which were a continuation of the Washington meetings to work out details of a plan for striking the most powerful blow possible at the Axis. He conferred with the Allied land, naval, and air chiefs in the Mediterranean area. The commentator said that the secrecy surrounding Mr Churchill’s movements in North Africa was perfect. For some time he was in Algiers and then flew into Tunisia, where he flew over much of the battlefields. He motored many miles to visit different units, and between Tunis and Grombalia he drove along the road lined with troops for 15 miles.

He told a gathering of airmen that he had come with a message of gratitude from their fellow countrymen. He also said that the results of the North African campaign meant a shortening of the war and a long step towards peace, home, and honour. • The climax of Mr Churchill’s triumphal tour came at Carthage, where thousands of British soldiers and airmen heard him offer the thanks and congratulations of the people of Britain to the American. British, and French forces for driving the Axis out of Africa. Everywhere he went Mr Churchill was greeted with great enthusiasm. U-BOAT LOSSES ADMITTED INCREASED ALLIED STRENGTH NEW SUBMARINE FINDER REPORTED LONDON, June 4. The German Admiralty admits the Allied navies’ success against the U-boats and also the considerable reduction in British shipping losses due to greatly improved defence methods, says the Berne correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” Captain Rudolf Krone, who is a member of Admiral Doenitz’s staff, in an article in the "Voelkischer Beobachter,” says that the. Allies possess a new submarine finder, enabling the detection of U-boats at long distances, thus forcing them to operate with great caution. “The Allies have succeeded in temporarily disturbing our strategical and tactical plans for the U-boat campaign,” he says. “It is hoped that German industry will soon find new weapons against the increased Allied defence strength. New tactics must be found,” Congratulations to the Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force on its “brilliant success” in the war against the U-boats last month have been expressed by the Chief of the Air Staff (Sir Charles Portal). “The success achieved in this vital field is the welldeserved result of tireless perseverance and devotion to duty and is, I am sure, a welcome reward for the air-crews and others who have spared no effort during the long months of arduous operations and training,” he said. “Now that you have obtained this remarkable advantage, I know you will press it home with everincreasing vigour and determination, until, in conjunction with the Royal Navy, you have finally broken the enemy’s morale.”