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GENERAL SIR ARCHIBALD P. WAVELL, who has relinquished his post as Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, in which he has won the great- est distinction of any British soldier in this war, discussed the war in an informal interview in Cairo. In his office he recalled briefly the victories and defeats of the past glorious and tragic months and, responding to conversational questions, sketched opinions as to the future that are of special interest at this critical point in American and world history. The most interesting of these from the Amer- ican point of view sum up to this:
10
He Expects Long War
military triumph so complete that Germany could not again terrorise the world.
Air Power
"Eventually," he went on, “Ger- many can be beaten by a com- bined, unrelenting assault from the air, softening her up for an ultimate invasion of her territory. But nothing, can be done without air power.
"The West remains the principal battlefield while the other front becomes one of attrition."
One correspondent raised the question of whether the present threat to Russia's Ukraine, with its grain, coal, iron and water- power, and to her Caucasus, with its oil, was not converting the war into a race between Germany and America, Germany's part of
can
our muni.
Whatever happens in Eastern place he is likely to becoine Europe, where the Germans and fixed in his thoughts about it. A the race being to exploit these Russians
In a resources are battling, the final fresh mind may see things
America before issue of the war will be decided new perspective."
prepare for active belligerency on the West, as it
was in the Then the conversation begun land. last war, and in the end it will roving over the whole subject of "Do you think we have time." be a battle of nan power.
the war, beginning with
the asked the correspondent, "to pre- present Russian-German conflict.1pare the necessary forces for an
can hardly be reported chrono-invasion and to bring łoglenily for topics were begun tions production up to the level IC the war continues long and dropped and then resumed required for a lasting victory be- enough and General Wavell in some other connection,
fore Germany can make effective appears to have no illusions that
what loot she can get in Russia?" this will be a short war if it is
"The greatest danger to the to be effectively and permanent-
West," replied General Wavell, ly won- American กาลก power
thoughtfully, "always has been will be needed. Our airplanes,
that Germany would conquer tanks and guns, decisive though General Wavell avoided any . Russia and utilize her resources, their aid has been in helping predictions as to the outcome or hasn't it?"
from the air.
Stresses Importance
Of 'Planes
Britain hold out this long, will ¦ duration of the Russian-German He paused a moment and then not be enough. There is a limit war except to indicate that air'said, "Yes, I believe there is time." to Britain's own man power. power might prove the controll- Į There were a few more ques- Germany can and will being factor there and that the tions about the Western Desert beaton eventually by an in German Air Force was strong. which General Wavell thought vasion of her soll after she But he saw Germany assuming was now safe for the British, and has been hammered sufficiently many disadvantages from the
about the respite for the British point of view of the war as a Near East forces that Adolf When and where American whole in plunging into the East. Hitler's assault on Russia has troops should eventually be em- "Germany in this war, as in the
provided. Then the general rose ployed are matters to be deter-last, has been able thus far and said: **I must get on with mined by events.
operate from a central position
the day's work." Britain has по intention of and rely upon her existing net-
His day's work is chiefly the abandoning this theatre of war. work of railways, waterways and directing of two wars, one on the General Wavell's conclusions, highways to move her weight Libyan border, the other in Syria, on the part the United States westward or eastward as she re-plus the myriad of vexing_pro- may play, though they coincide quired," he said. "Meanwhile we blems in commanding 500,000 men with those of many highly placed have had to move and manoeuvre and administering vast territories. Americans, were not volunteered on the outside of that circle at
by him, but were disclosed only long distances from In replies to Specific questions of supply.
our sources Pays Tribute To Troops
drive east-
and sometimes were revealed "Germany, by this
Later General Wavell invited more by inference than by state-ward, hus lengthened her line of all the accredited war correspon- ments. Like every other high communication while ours remain dents to G. H. Q. for a farewell British official, he has studiously constant-and our supplies are conference in which he thanked avoided advising Americans what; coming in increasing quantities them for their cooperation and
they should do.
from America."
"We cannot speak of 'sweep ing,''
*" said the General "Com.
The Interview was given to "Can Germany sweep through only two correspondents, Frank the Caucasus, Iran and Iraq?" Gervast of Collier's and the came another question. writer, who had been trying to arrange it for some time-not an easy thing to do, for the general has a terrific working schedule. Once one gains access to him. General Wavell proves once more what every reporter learns early, that the bigger the man the more gracfous he is.
paid a tribute to the troops he is leaving.
No
"
"We have suffered from a lack of equipment," he said, "but the troops here have made magnificent munications there are bad and use of all the equipment and op-
have had. portunities they the terrain is difficult. Russia's one has ever been better served strength lies in the vastness of by his troops and commanders her numbers, her lack of com- than I have been. Certainly no munications, her ability to with part of such fallures we have had draw long distances and con- have been the fault of the troops. tinue withdrawing.
The general sald the Syrian The Commander in Chief's "If the Germans penetrate deep-campaign was "a slow, sticky uffice, in a big Cairo office build-ly into the Ukraine they will find business" in difficult country but ing taken over by General Head-themselves in difficulties. for was going satisfactorily with the quarters, has no hint of war they will be far from their bases: prospect that resistance would be except maps, studded with pins, faced with the necessity of trans-overcome before long. that almost entirely cover the porting supplies over a very long "It has not been a pleasant paneled walls. There are no line of communication."
former business, fighting our other decorations. On a large, The question of all-out Amer-
alfles," he added. plain, flat-topped desk are reports ican participation in the war was He said he could now hope also from subordinates and a rew launched with the writer's query, that the defence of the Near East reference books.
"Do you hold with the views that was satisfactory. He stressed that only tools are necessary to win the Germans had shown no sign the war?"
Apology For Shirt Sleeves
Manpower Need General Wavell pauseri
of returning after the big battle in mid-June. He said the British had lost a number of valuable tanks in that battle, but that the The general left his desk as we
and Germans also had been badly entered and led us to a small answered, “No, undoubtedly we knocked about. table in a corner where we could shall need manpower if the war Though the Greek and Cretian talk close together in complete continues long enough and I have campaigns were setbacks, he said, informality. The general apolo- no doubt it will.
they served a valuable purpose by gized for his shirt sleeves. He "To my mind the west remains costing the Germans
more time, has a fine military bearing, listens the decisive battlefteld, notwith-men and materiei than they had carefully and speaks directly to standing this drive eastward, as expected. you in the language of an or it was in the last war. England "If the Germans, instead of derly, well-stocked mind and must remain secure. (Meaning going into Russia, had put thefr gives the impression of perfect Britain cannot risk weakening forces down here we would have frankness and intellectual honesty. home forces for fear of an attempt had a pretty difficult time," he
ovident was
General at invasion.) It will be a battle continued. “They thought they Waveli was relinquishing this of manpower in the end,"
would, get Crete with little diffi- command with some regret al· "Can you win the war without culty and that the air troops they though he looks tired and In America's full scale participation?" used there could be transferred great need of rest. Everywhere General Wavell answered with to Syria and Iraq." among subordinate officers and finds regret at the general's leaving.
It
"How do you feel about your new post General?" was tho opening question,
tions, transport,
mon."
"
"When?"
a slow shake of, his head, than The respite given in the Nedr he sald: བ་དང་ shall have to East by the assault on Russia have aeroplanes, tanks, muni gave the British Army a needed and finally opportunity to rest, train and roft and gave the British and Free French forces in Syria a chance "I was in India thirty years
"The sooner the better," was to occupy that country before the ago as a subaltern," he replied. the reply. "But that depends on Germans could get back to this "It will be a new job and quite when you are ready, doesn't it? region, the general continued. a change. I have had two quite I suppose when you get into all "The outcome of the German- strenuous years here. We have out production you will be able Russian conflict cannot be gauged had our ups and downs. Auchin- to equip any number of men for now nor can we tell how strong leck (General Claude J. E. Au- anywhere in the world."
a resistance Russia will be able. chinleck who will succeed General A moment later it became evi- to present," he said. "Nor is it Wavell in the Middle East com- dent the general was thinking of possible to tell where Hitler, would mand) is a very good soldier, It Europe as the eventual field of go next if he succeeded in over. will be a good thing to have as operātion: for American troops. running Russia, whether he would fresh mind work on this situa-The general thinks of victory over try to go east or come down here tion. If one is too long in one" Germany only. In the terms of a or try an invasion of England.".