EGYPTIAN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1942, Page 3

EGYPTIAN FRONT

VISITED BY MR CHURCHILL INFORMAL INSPECTION OF AUSTRALIANS. TALKS WITH DE GAULLE & SMUTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 18. Mr Churchill, en route to Moscow, inspected Australian and South African personnel on the El Alamein front. He walked down a road to make an informal inspection of the Australians, to whom he gave the V sign and received a rousing welcome. He also visited the Eighth Army Headquarters, mel (lie brigade and divisional commanders, and inspected gun sites. The French Press Service states that General de Gaulle had a long conversation with Mr Churchill in Cairo recently. The conversation was most cordial, and covered all subjects relative to Anglo-French co-operation in the Middle East. General Smuts has stated that the talks in Cairo and Moscow with Mr Churchill are likely to have far-reach-ing effects on the conduct of the war. During his visit to Cairo, Mr Churchill met the Eighth Army commanders, including Lieutenant-General Freyberg, commander of the New Zealanders. CHANGES IN COMMAND CRITICISED BY “DAILY MAIL.” LONDON, August 18. “The public will view the changes in the Middle Eastern Army command with deep concern,” says the “Daily Mail.” “It is said that the Germans appoint hew generals more frequently, but we are entitled to ask why so many have been sent to the Middle East and found unsuitable. “The conditions there call not only for experts in desert warfare, but also for leaders who are thoroughly versed in tank warfare, for which the sandy wastes of Egypt and Libya are ideal; yet, so far, no soldier thoroughly grounded in mechanised experience has been appointed to any of the higher commands, and this apparently will rule even now. To say that Generals Alexander and Montgomery are infantrymen and General Lumsden a cavalryman casts no doubt on their abilities, for all have proved themselves. They may possess the fastmoving minds essential for directing high-speed warfare, but we cannot always proceed on the process of selection by trial and error. It has already proved fai- too costly.” AXIS MOVEMENTS SCREENING BY AIRCRAFT FAILS. LONDON, August 18.' Squadrons of Messerschmitts have patrolled the El Alamein front in the last few days in an endeavour to hide Axis troop movements, but the -attempt has failed, says the “Daily Mail’s” correspondent with the Eighth Army. Our airmen fought their way through and made reconnaissances wherever they wished. The Italians and Germans are energetically reorganising their front line. Troop-carriers are regularly ferrying fresh infantry from Greece and Crete and the railway is again operating to bring up Axis supplies. Our listening posts deep in no man’s land report hearing a large number of tanks and vehicles taking up new positions at night. NIGHT PATROLS ACTIVE ENEMY WORKING PARTIES ATTACKED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. A Cairo communique states: “On Monday night our patrols were active in alb sectors and attacked enemy working parties and patrols. “Yesterday there was nothing to report from our land forces and there was but little air activity.”