CAUGHT NAPPING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1942, Page 3

CAUGHT NAPPING

NAZIS IN NORTH AFRICA SUCCESS OF PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS. ALLIED AIR COMMANDER’S SURVEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 17. The “New York Times” correspondent with advanced R.A.F. headquarters in North Africa, Mr Drew Middleton, interviewed Air Marshal Sir William Welsh, who expressed the opinion that the campaign for air control in the Mediterranean was nearing its close and that the day was not far distant when the entire Mediterranean would be open to the shipping of the United Nations, thereby enabling the Allies to mount further offensives. He was certain, he said, that the success of preliminary landings at Algiers and Oran was due to their unexpectedness, which explains why the first day of the Allied landing in Algeria was almost unnoticed by the Luftwaffe, mid when the Nazis woke up strong Allied fighter forces had already arnved at vital airports. “The Luftwaffe undoubtedly will return and bomb Algiers, from Sicily and Sardinia, said Sir W. Welsh, “but such an attack will be extremely costly in view of the wealth of Allied flak protection concentrated in the city.” He c ou cl U“?““The Allied adventure in North Africa caught the Nazis napping. Now they are fighting defensively, and, witn God’s grace, we will give them a good hiding.”