Evening star., 1942-07-01

Mr.. Churchill's statement that
British forces in Libya were strong
enough to meet the Axis was Untrue
and inaccurate"
Sir Roger asserted that the
Admiralty had failed ''inexcusably"
to provide the Mediterranean feet
with necessary air strength, and said
failure to provide proper weapons
had sent the war machine lumber
ing from one disaster to the next
Laborite Arthur Greenwood told
Commons that the fall of Tobruk
was "as profound a shock" as the
people have had since Dunkerque. q.
Simultaneously, in the House of
Lords, Lord Addison said the failure
to provide dive -bombers was dis
grace and he urged that Gen. Sir
Archibald P Wavell be brought
home from his Indian command to
assume Mr.. Churchills post as de-
fense minister.
Defending the Prime Minister.
Lord Beaverbrook said he was sure
Mr., Churchill had not taken the de-
cision for the evacuation of Tobruk.
Il cannot suppose that Gen. Sir
Claude Auchinleck would give over
his authority or responsibility to an
other" he declared, and said
Churchill would tell his general in
the field the issue must be settled
there"
Urges Gloucester for Chief.
Earlier, WardlaW- Milne had sug-
gested that the Duke of Gloucester
be made commander in chief of the
British armed forces. This drew de-
risive shouts from Mr. Churchill's
supporters of 'that'd put the lid
on it,"
Wardlaw- Mines attack followed
the forecast lines-that too much
responsibility was centered in Mr..
Churchiifs own hands, as Prime
Minister and Defense Minister; that
CO ordination among Britain's land,
sea and air arms was lacking and
that British production was slow in
providing the most modern equip
ment.
MI. Lyttleton, first government
speaker, told the members that Brit
ain is producing several hundred
six FOUNDER anti-tank guns each
month.
He said more than $50 of these
Founders were allocated to the
Near East forces on June l, but that
only "a small proportion" were in
the hands of the troops when the
German tank units attacked
Mr.. Lyttleton said American dive
bcmbers have already been sent to
one front and that others would be
delivered soon from American fac
tories
He denied that delays in providing
dive -bombers to the Near East troops
had been the fault of American
production
He said Gen. Sir Claude Auchin-
leck still has "a substantial number
of American 28-ton Gen. Grant
tanks and that others ARE arriving
on the battlefield"
Clement Davies, opposition Liberal,
moved that the House proceed "at
once to the impeachment of persons
responsible" for lack of weapons and
equipment for British forces in the
field, as outlined by Mr. Lyttleton,
but he was declared out of order.
With the explanation that his sole
shortest possible time. WardlaW-
Milne rejected suggestion that the
debate be deferred after Mr. Chur-
chill himself had said he preferred
that it go on.
Disapproval over the war leader
ship f1ared in the House after the
sudden collapse of Tobruk on the
heels of confident reports from the
North African front that the Axis
eastward drive was faltering.
Although some backing has been
rallied behind the government S
critics, British parliamentary OBJ
servers have predicted that the
Prime Minister would be supported
Overwhelmingly and that a move
ment to split the premiership and
otitllSSt MllllSblS dlSp "Oulu IAN
/ Mr.. Churchill himself will wind up
the debate tomorrow and his sup
porters count on his oratory to dis
arm the opposition.
Strikes at Sore Spot.
! Mr.. Churchill, the man who
/ claims credit for successes-or who
/ would claim credit if we had sue
! cesSes-must bear the responsible
! ity for defeat" Wardlaw- Milne de-
clared.
/ Striking a sore point of the gov
/ ernment's case, he asked-as the
House cheered-"Who gave the de-
cision for the capitulation of To
bruk?" and Who previously hat
decided on the attempt to hold it?
The surprise weapon which
knocked out British tanks in Liby
the Nazis' 88- 8-millimeter cannon
was used in the attack on Bilbao
Spain, in 1887, he charged, and as
serted there was no officer on tn
tank board with recent experience il
desert tank fighting.
Calling it terrible indictment
of the government, WardlaW- Min
declared the American built Kitty
hawk fighter used by the Raj i
Libya could be trusted only up t
10000 feet, above which the Mes
serschmitt l09-Fs were better. H
said German tanks "outgun ours il
range three to one and their armo
is much thicker"
Naval Advice" Blamed.
Admiral Keyes, whose son wa
killed in a raid on German head
quarters in Libya. asserted Britail
| might have been able to knock 1tal.
q: