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ANNEX.
Draft Telegram to Commanders-in-Chief, Moditerranean
and Middle East.
36
Following from Chiefs of Staff No.
We fully appreciate your desire to strengthen
the air force in Malta and the reasons for which this
increase is considered necessary.
2.
t
We must point out, however, that the demands
for essential increases in many directions lately have
been extremely heavy.
They have taxed our resources
to the utmost. All of them have had to be met at
the expense of Bomber Command, whose expansion is
vitally important but is impossible so long as our
available resources, especially in trained crews,
continue to be diverted for other purposes.
3.
Nevertheless we have agreed in principle to add
1 flight of 7 I.E. Beauforts to Malta in addition to
the flight of 7 I.E. Glen Martins already promised,
with 5 I.R. of both types.
4.
We cannot state at present when we shall be able
to despatch the aircraft since none can be allotted to
you at present.
5.
We intend, however, to despatch as soon as
possible the maintenance personnel, spares and special
torpedoes so that there should be no delay in operating
the aircraft immediately they are available and crews
can be spared.
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