BRITISH ARMY ESTIMATES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21364, 7 March 1941, Page 5

BRITISH ARMY ESTIMATES

EPIC OF DUNKIRK RECALLED MAJOR FORMATIONS NOW WELL EQUIPPED HUGE ITALIAN LOSSES CAPTURE OR DESTRUCTION (Official Wireless) (Received March 7, 1.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 6 The whole story of the Dunkirk evacuation will, it is expected, soon be told in Viscount GorTs despatches. Meanwhile the Secretary of State for War, Captain Margesson, in introducing the Army Estimates in the House of Commons, revealed that in the retirement to the coast the Army succeeded in withdrawing no less than 85 per cent of its effectives. Captain Margesson added that the transformation effected in one month, June, was perhaps unequalled in the history of the British Army. By the end of the month practically the whole British Expeditionary Force had re-formed and the units provided with minimum weapons and transports. The breathing space since Dunkirk had been turned to good effect. The wheels of production are now turning faster and most of the major formations are now comparatively well equipped. Captain Margesson also gave astonishing figures of the Libyan campaign. The capitulation of Benghazi, he said, completed the capture or destruction of the whole Italian Army in East Libya, estimated to exceed 150,000. The British losses in these and all other operations in the Middle East theatre, including East Africa, between November 30 and February 11 totalled 1774, of which 438 were killed.

Greater Struggle Ahead In emphasising that these opera-j tions were but the prelude to greater l struggles, the War Secretary turned l to home defence. He reminded the House that the danger of invasion is very real, but every possibility open to the ingenuity of the enemy nas been considered. Not many weeks ago there was a sham battle, in which all the resources, state, civil and military, were engaged for a week. “The exercise was directed at meeting at imagined attack,” said Captain Margesson, “and for its purpose we called in some of the most brilliant staff officers at our disposal and asked them to take on the role of German General Staff and make plans to attack this country. The attack was duly launched. This ‘Geiman staff’ was housed in special offices, and by a scheme of observer:. throughout the country the effect of the various waves ot attack were noted. “The valuable lessons learned of the ingenuity of this improvised enemy staff resulted in a scale of attack greatly exceeding in probability anything the Germans could actually inflict. The enemy was allowed to inflict upon us every preliminary disaster which might conceivably come upon us. There were many ‘landings’ by sea and air, and the continuous air bombardment of our central points was calculated to have caused a breakdown of many means of communications. Notwithstanding this assumption of the werst, the defence organisation came through the ordeal with the greatest credit. “It showed,” said Captain Margesson, “that we are not sitting tight in our defences but are endeavouring to improve the scheme of static and mobile defence from day to day.” Impartial Selection The War Secretary dealt with the suggestion that the selection of officers was impartial between different classes of society. “An analysis,” he said, “of tne commissions given from a selection from the cadet training units shows that for the period from September 27 to December 27, 1940, 26 per cent of the successful pupils came from what is known as the public schools. Of the balance 24 per cent came from the grammar, country or secondary schools, and of these about nine per cent had had a university education. “An examination of the civil occupations of candidates for the same period was also interesting. They included a publican, a tailor, a doctor, an optician, a labourer, a racehorse trainer, a rope maker, a grocer, a fireman and a barrister.” AIRMEN HONOURED GALLANTRY IN ERITREA (omclal Wireless) (Received March 7, 12 Noon) RUGBY, March 6 One D. 5.0., a second bar to the D.F.C., and the D.F.C. were awarded in the latest Royal Air Force list. One recipient had taken part in 20 operational flights over Eritrea and Abyssinia by formations over mountainous country and finding new targets in spite of the unreliability of the maps and adverse weathef. AUSTRALIAN TRADE NO LOSS THROUGH WAR CHANGE IN MARKETS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Cupyrlght) CANBERRA. March 6 Although markets worth £25,000.000 a year have been closed by the German occupatibn of certain European countries, there has actually been no loss of trade by Australia. Four-fifths of this trade with Europe comprised wool, and it is now going to Britain. The remaining £3.000.000 worth ha. been diveited | chiefly to India, Malaya and New Zealand.

SHOT DOWN INTO SEA FATE OF GERMAN JUNKERS FLYING BOAT’S SUCCESS MANNED BY AUSTRALIANS (omclal Wireless) (Received March 7, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, March 6 An Air Ministry communique states: —“ In the course of routine operations yesterday a flying-boat of the Coastal Command, while on patrol in the Atlantic, encountered two enemy bombers. One enemy aircraft was shot down into the sea and the other was severely damaged before it made off. The Air Ministry news service says: A Sunderland flying-boat, which was Australian-manned, sighted two Junkers 88's on a parallel course about a mile and a-half to port. They were 500 feet above the sea. The Sunderland kept close watch, but about an hour later the Junkers unexpectedly reappeared out of a cloud. Diving together towards the Sunderland and blazing away with their guns, they closed to 250 yards, firing continuously. The Sunderland held its fire until it came down to 100 feet above the water, and the bursts which it then fired into the enemy were too much for the Junkers. When 200 yards away they turned aside and began to climb. Thirty seconds later one came plunging downwards with smoke pouring Irom it and crashed into the sea. The second Junkers made another attempt to challenge the Sunderland and closed to 200 yards before it broke away again from the Sunderland’s accurate firing. This bomber was so severely punished that there is little likelihood that it regained its base. CANADIAN CROPS SUBSTITUTE FOR WHEAT ! CORN, FLAX AND BARLEY I j ASSISTANCE FOR BRITAIN (United Pres* Assn. —Live. Tel. Copyright) \ (Received March 7, noon) WINNIPEG, March 6 The Grain Research Committee, after a conference lasting three days, recommended Western Canadian farmers to increase the corn, flax and barley crops as a substitute for wheat. An increase of 35,000,000 bushels in the barley production will be required to feed the increased numbers of hogs needed for Britain. The increases in corn, flax and barley will take out 1,250,000 acres for wheat. LABOUR CRITICISM contradictory speeches ’ I POLICY IN THE PACIFIC I (Unflftd Press Assn —hler Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Mafch 6 The Federal Labour politician, Mr *J. A. Beasley, claimed that while !the War Council in Australia was speaking with one voice on the I Japanese situation, the Prime Minister, Hr R. G. Menzies, was speakI ing with another voice in London. I Mr Menzies’ remarks, he said, were calculated to make every American wonder whether the British Flmpire I was embarking on an appeasement ! policy in the Pacific. I