AIR CO-OPERATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1942, Page 3

AIR CO-OPERATION

WITH ARMY IN EGYPT CONDITIONS LAID DOWN. MR CHURCHILL’S RULING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 7. Mr Churchill was asked in the House of Commons today whether the aircraft allocated to General Auchinleck for the campaign now being fought in the Middle East were under his direct command for operations. He replied: “No. On October 7, 1941, before the winter battle in Libya, I gave a ruling on this subject as follows: ‘Upon the military Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, announcing that a battle is in prospect, the air officer Commander-in-Chief will give him all possible aid, irrespective of other targets, however attractive. The army C.-in-C. will specify to the air officer C.-in-C. the targets, and the tasks which he requires to be performed, both in the preparatory attack and during the progress of the battle. It will be for the air officer C.-in-C. to use his maximum force for this purpose in the manner most effective. This applies not only to any army co-opera-tion, but to the whole air force available in the theatre. This direction has been agreeable to both Services, and has been in force ever since.” GENERAL WAVELL VISIT TO CAIRO REPORTED BY PARIS RADIO. LONDON, July 7. The Paris radio stated that General Wavell has arrived in Cairo and has been received by General Auchinleck.