MIDDLE EAST FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1940, Page 5

MIDDLE EAST FORCES

9 BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’S MESSAGE. SERVICE THAT WILL COUNT FOR VICTORY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 8. As indicated by Mr Churchill, the forces in the Middle East are being reinforced and large numbers of British troops have now arrived at an Egyptian port. They came in the biggest convoy of ships yet to arrive in Egypt since war began. Men and material from Britain, Rhodesia, India and Canada disembarked throughout the day, and the town rang with cheers as trainloads of soldiers, many of whom had seen service, left for their destination in the desert, Palestine, and elsewhere. The troops from England were largely men who had fought in France. In a message to the troops, the British Commander-in-Chief, Sir Archibald Wavell, said he wished the troops to get fit as quickly as possible and take their places with all the other troops in Africa. He said he had just returned from a visit to England, and that country was well prepared. The spirit of the people was high and confident, and there was no doubt that if invasion were attempted it would be defeated. He impressed on the troops that by serving in the Middle East they were doing as much to defeat Germany and Italy as if they were deTending their homes in the United Kingdom.