Evening star., 1942-08-19
Shift in British Chiefs
Puts New Emphasis
On Near East Area
Developments Weighed
With Some Optimism
And Some Anxiety
p the Associated Press.

WIZ S~tuS INutAICtY
p the Associated Press.
LONDON, Aug. The in
fusion OF new brains and new
blood on Britain's precarious
Near Eastern front, coupled with
the close attention Prime Min
lister Churchill gave it on his way
to Moscow, stamped that battle
theate in many British minds
today as zone of impending
major action.
North Africa has immense strate-
gic potentialities. 1t might become
the United Nations second front
With only 80 miles separating his
armies from Alexandria, on the
other hand. Hitler scarcely could
neglect that arm of his vast Near
Eastern pincer If his goal is to
master the trans Caucasus by win
ter.
Britons. therefore, weighed these
sudden developments with some op-
timism and some anxiety:
i. Mr.. Churchill's stopover in
Egypt en- route to his talks with
Joseph Stain, during which he in
spected the front at such close hand
he came within earshot of the
enemy and met virtually the whole
who's Who" of the United Ma
tions leadership in North Africa.
2. The announcement, swiftly fol-
lowing his visit. that Gen. Sir Har-
old r. l.. G. Alexander had been
called to command in the Near East
in place of Gen. Sir Claude j. E.
Auchinleck.
3. The arrival in Egypt OF new
United States contingents, including
ground stats for the American
Army Air Forces, whose medium and
heavy bombers already are in action
and whose fighter planes have COM
pleted their last desert training.
Auchinleck's Future Uncertain.
Although in Gen. Alexander the
British have picked an advocate
Of attack and surprise to match
wits with the Axis willy Field Mar
shall Erwin Rommel, some of the
misgivings arose over the fact that
Britain once again had switched
Near East commanders.
THE process Of selection by trial
and error already has proved far
too COSTLY" commented the Daily
Mail.
One unanswered question was
whether Gen. Auchinleck had re-
signed or was being given another
post. No new assignment was an
nounced for him and the War
Office offered no comment. Some
unofficial British sources, however,
said 1t was unlikely that a soldier
of Gen. Auchinleck's standing and
experience would be sent into re-
tirement.
(Silence concerning the re-
placed Middle East commander
might mean that the British
were keeping the enemy guess
ing. Gen. Auchinleck COM
manded the forces which took
Narvik from the Germans in
1910, but when the Nazis in
vaded France soon after his ar
rival In Norway, he was ordered
back to defend Britain. He later
succeeded Gen. Sir Archibald P.
Waveu in North Africa and the
latest Nazi drive, stalled now at
El Alamein, was stopped after he
had taken personal direction of
the 9th Army in the field)
1t. Gen. B. l.. Montgomery, former
commander of the Southeastern
Command in Britain, was appointed
to command the 9th Army, succeed
ing 1t. Gen. Neil M. Ritchie. who
retired from the field when Gen.
Auchinleck personally took over.
Important Discussions.
Among the leaders Mr. Churchill
and Gen. Sir Alan Francis Brooke,
chief Of the imperial general staff
met In important discussions" an
official announcement from Cairo
disclosed last night, were:
Field Marshal Jan Christian
smuts, Prime Minister of South
Africa; Maj. Gen. Russell Maxwell,
United States commander in the
Near East; Gen. Charles de Gaulle
and Gen. Georges Catroux of the
Fighting French, and King Farouk
and Prime Minister Nahas Pasha
OF Egypt
Among Britain's own top generals
and diplomatic officials who sat In
with Mr.. Churchill were Sir Alex
ander Cadogan, permanent secre-
tary of state for foreign affairs,
who accompanied him to Moscow;
Gen. Wavell, now commander In
chief in India; 1t. Gen. Sir Pierre
van Ryneveld, chief of the imperial
staff Of the South African forces;
Sir Henry Wilson, commander in
chief of the 9th Army and Gen.
Bernard Freyberg, commander of
New Zealand troops in the Near
East.
Recalling Gen. Alexander's fond
ness for fierce attacks many sources
here believed there would shortly
be extraordinary action in the
western desert, particularly since
the RAF has been reinforced by
American men and planes.
1t was also noted that the weather
In the desert will soon be moder-
sting, becoming more favorable for
big scale actions. Observers believe
Gen, Alexander will not waste any
opportunity to attack.
One military source here drew
q parallel between Gen. Alexander
and Gen. Wavell, whose Arras cam
paign in the last war was not par
ticularly successful but who won
brilliant campaign against the
Turks after his transfer to the
Near East.
Gen. Alexander, this source said,
is likely to turn the trick for the
Allies. His conduct at Dunkerque
endeared him to every man in the