Evening star., 1942-12-26
BY DEWITT MACKENZIE.

CAIRO, Dec. ~ Delayed 1t.
Gen. Frank M. Andrews, COM
mander in chief OF American forces
in the Middle East, assures me that
while 1t will take hard fighting to
oust the Axis from Africa, Field
Marshal Gen. Erwin Rommel has
been so thoroughly whipped he no
longer is q menace to Egypt and
the Suez Canal.
Now, opinions on war are
plaster a dozen these days - and
that's 4 cents. However, I repeat
Gen. Andrews estimate because
this famous fighting man, among
Uncle Sans most distinguished
soldiers, exhibits a solidarity that
inspires confidence in his views.
I'm not the only one who feels
that way, for I understand he has
created 4 most favorable impress
sion since he assumed command
here few weeks ago.
Picture Encouraging.
Everything in the general pic
ture is very encouraging, he told
me in his quiet but direct and posi-
tive way.
"Rommel has been given a hard
trouncing He never again can
come back into Egypt. I couldn't
even imagine 1t. He has been
licked"
asked Gen. Andrews how long
he thought it would take to finish
the job by driving the Germans
into the sea. He shook his head.
Il wouldn't want to make that
prediction. Rommel must be ami
hilated-made to stand and fight
or rendered impotent by having his
supplies cut of.
He waits until you get all set to
strike him and then pulls out. He's
! clever at it, but he's playing a dan
gerous game. Let him slip once and
the Allies will get him.
Battle Of Supplies.
1--WE can render the Axis helpless
both in this theater and in Tunisia
by cutting of their resources from
the continent. This Is a battle of
supplies. and we must blockade the
Axis so they can't carry on. We can
do it because we have superiority in
the air and on the sea-"
caught Gen. Andrews at his
headquarters just as he arrived from
| two-hour conference with the Brit
ish War Council. He obviously was
tired, for it was the end of a long
day. He looked. however, every inch
a soldier. Those three silver stars
! on his square shoulder set off to
advantage his handsome shock of
iron gray hair. Presumably he still
had the conference on his mind, for
he remarked: The British have a
wonderful organization here In
Egypt" w
jumped at that opening head
f1rst. Tell me how we are getting
along with our Allies here" l said
DO Americans and British like each
other? Are We developing a friend
ship which promises we'll for that
vital postwar cooperation? Now
IL those questions embarrass you at
all let's just forget them altogether
because I don't write propaganda
for ANYBODY. I'm looking for a cam
did opinion"
Get Along Fine.
I'm glad to answer" he returned
because like the British. and the
two forces are getting along fine to-
gether.
We are getting to know each
other. Our Allies like plain talk and
so do we, and that's all to the good.
Ihe British have fine qualities.
They're brave and they're thorough.
I'm a great admirer of the British
organization. There's lots we can
! learn from them"
l was glad to get this estimate
from Gen. Andrews, because it has
been my observation here and in
Britain that the two forces are max
ing an honest effort not only to un-
derstand each other, but to cultivate
| friendship. There certainly seems
to be much more cordial spirit ex-
hibited on both sides than there was
in the last war.
Veterans Sent Home,
The commander and l fell to dis
cussing the development of our air
force in this theater. One point
brought out was that the diversity
OF f1ghting, involving as it does not
only operation against sea commu-
nications. but work over desert and
all other types of terrain, is a won-
| derful school for air warriors.
Gen. Andrews said that in due
course veteran officers would be sent
home for Institutional purposes.
Thus our young recruits will get the
benefit Of the wealth of experience
gained here.
asked how far our forces would
be developed in this theater.
That depends on the future" he
said. Our mission is clear cut-to
drive the Axis out of Africa"