FORCES IN NEAR EAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1940, Page 5

FORCES IN NEAR EAST

TWO ALLIED ORGANISATIONS READY Possibility of Enemy Drive Towards Persian Gulf (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, February 6. The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times/’ Mr Archambault, says that news has reached Paris via Rome 01. nervousness in the Middle East, with Iran and Afghanistan taking military precautions in expectation of a Russian and German drive toward 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, 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 organisa--1 ions in the Near East. The first is under French mandate, commanded by General AVeygand and comprising all the troops in Syria and Lebanon, which were recently reinforced and equipped with an adequate air force and mechanised formations. Since the Allies are masters of the Mediterranean there would be no difficulty in assuring supplies for .further reinforcements, specially from North Africa. 'The second military organisation is the British Army in the Middle East, commanded by General AYavell. This command extends over wide areas in the Middle East and Africa and acts in liaison with the air commands in Iraq ami Aden. Ln addition a military mission Jinks the Egyptian Army and important Indian units are training in Egypt. It. is reasonable to suppose that eventual unity of command is envisaged.

Thanks to the foresight shown in the early military and diplomatic preparation, the army in the Orient can count on adequate bases—not confined to Egypt. Its supplies and reinforcements from home can come via Beirut (Syria) and the Dardanelles, while'tin 1 Persian Gulf is available for supplies and reinforcements from Australia, and India.

Consequently it can cope with the situation whenever and wherever the Eastern Front develops.

-ARMY OF THE DESERTS” General Weygand Takes Salute BIG PARADE OF TROOPS IN. EGYPT (Received This Dav, 9.30 a.m.) CAIRO, February 7. ' Today Britain’s “army of the deserts,’’ the second largest force of Ihe Empire, will be on parade and General AVeygand will take the salute at the march past. Those highly-trained troops, mobile mechanised units of the Aliddlc East Allied forces, are capable of dealing with any emergency.