MASTERY OF SEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1943, Page 3

MASTERY OF SEAS

UNDERLINED BY CHURCHILL’S JOURNEY. DISCUSSIONS AT GIBRALTAR ( AND OTHER PLACES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, December 2. _ The confidence of the Allies in their mastery of the seas is underlined by the fact that Mr Churchill and his delegation made the whole journey to North Africa from England by sea, states an agency correspondent. Mr Churchill s personal assistant. Commander C. R. Thompson, said the Prime Minister and party called at Gibraltar, Algiers and Malta on their way to Gibraltar. Mr Churchill discussed the situation in the Mediterranean with senior officers. At Algiers he met General Eisenhowers Chief of Staff, the British Minister (Mr Harold McMillan), and senior staff officers of the Allied Command. With Mr Churchill, as the ship steamed to Malta, were Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham (First Sea Lord) and General Sir H. Ismay - . At Malta the delegation was joined by Sir Charles Portal and Sir Alan. Brooke, and here Mr Churchill met Generals Eisenhower and Alexander, Air Chief Marshal Tedder and Admiral Sir John Cunningham, and conferred for a day and a half. Typical of the whole magnificent organisation behind the conference was the fact that there was a complete alternative plan, devised by the Air Chiefs, to take Mr Churchill on by air at any stage of the sea journey if necescary.

With the Chinese talks completed and a new*" Allied strategy planned, British and American service chiefs have turned their attention to the Mediterranean, states a correspondent in North Africa. General Eisenhower is in the chair, and more than 30 experts are attending, including Air Chief Marshal Tedder and General Sir H. Maitland Wilson,