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ANNEX.
200
EDIATE. MOST SECRET.
Following for Com.anders-in-Chief in the Middle Hast from the Chiels of Staff.
Reference A.300. 27/2. fro General Officer Comanding- in-Chief and Air Officer Comanding-in-Chief.
1. Scale of land attack has been re-examined and so far as land forces are concerned is estimated as follows. laxinun forecs which could be deployed opposite Turkish Front in Thr: c. are 16 Divisions made up of first 8 divisions meint. ined by rail Belgrado - Sofir Simeonovgrad.
- 6 to 8 Divisions maintained through Roumania by rail Rustchuk Elkhovo.
Second
2. Regarding air attack. Figure of 30 Squadrons in c.0.S.(39) 146 which is confirmed is estimated German concentration based on number of suitable aerodromes within striking distance in Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Figure includes proportion of not less than 50% bombers. Similar concentration may be estimated if German forces occupied Rowania and Bulgaria only. Air attack on Thrace is unlikely to reach above scale until sometime after commencement of Geraan move into Balkans but would ultimately exceed it after German consolidation.
3. Your para. 4. Your proposals for composition of Army element in LEOPARD (Appendix F to J/CM/2 of 17/2) are approved for 1anning purposes. Should situation arise demanding operation of LEOPARD plan before you have in the Hiddle Bast the necessary Army units decision to implement plan would be taken by Government after reviewing possibility of providing these mits from other sources. You may therefore assume that you will not (repeat not) be ordered to operate LEOPARD plan unless necessary Army units were being provided.
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