The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-02-10
AXIS SUCCESSES
STIR UP LONDON
Continued from Page y

NSOiltAAuCd 4AOlll age ~
strengthened by the fact that Bril-
tain has no one to replace him. That
also is true of most of his associates.
Although critics speak against the
administration, they rarely criticize
individuals.
Sir Stafford Cripps, former am
bassador to Russia, Is probably Bri-
tain's most popular political figure
asid from Churchill and Lord
Bearverbrook, but even he Is too
obscure to be seriously considered
as successor to the prime minis
tership.
Grips, who has been gaining at
tention during the last week with
several speeches, has been subtly
critical Of the war effort, but OBJ
servers believed his remarks only in
dicated the position he would follow
IL he remained out Of the govern
ment.
Several of his speeches limited that
Grips Is readily available for a
government position. His friends
said, however, that he would insist
on seat in the war cabinet or would
join the posion. He is said to
have definite political ambitions, but
observers believed it doubtful that
he thought he could unseat Church.
Ill in the near future.
Grips drew mild criticism In
some quarters after radio broad
cast Sunday night IN which he said
Britons were not subjecting them
selves to sacrifices equal to those
of the Russians. The accusation
came only a few days after he had
refused an offer to become minister
OF supply.
France Helps Rommel
London, Feb. 1O-(UP)-An Off
cial spokesman revealed today that
the German army in Libya has re-
ceived badly needed supplies from
French North Africa q ntdhat the
government Is in urgent consulta-
ton" about 1t with the United
States.
The government expected to hear
from Washington today, he added,
charging that Col. Gen. Erwin
Rommel, commander of the Ger
man Afrika korps, had received not
only food but ordinary gasoline and
high test aviation fuel through
French territory.
He was not in a position yet, to
say whether the supplies had origi-
mated In metropolitan France, he
said.
The United States, he said, had
made inquiries in Vichy.
There undoubtedly have been
deliveries from French North AZ
RIGA to the enemy in Libya of cars
and lorries of wheat, wine and olive
OIL" he said.
Gasoline and aviation spirits
also have been reaching the enemy
through Tunisia, although we are
not yet In position to say whether
these were consigned from French
North Africa or from metropolitan
France.
I'VE have made careful inquiries
and the articles mentioned are the
only ones so far as we find any ev-
idence for.
1.-THE government takes a most
serious view of this assistance to
the enemy by Vichy authorities In
North Africa and are in urgent
consultation with the government
Of the United States who have al
ready made inquiries at Vichy In
regard to this matter"
Attack Axis Forces
Cairo, Feb. 10-(UP)-British ar
tillery, bombing squadrons and mo-
bile patrols attacked Axis forces In
the Libyan desert west of Ain e.
Gazala today without attempting a
major test of tank strength.
The British line appeared to be
holding along fluid front from
Tmimi to Mekili and west OF Ten
| geder, according to the general
headquarters comrnuniQue.
out patrols and mobile column.
again were active over a wide
area" the communique said.
Parties Of the enemy were en-.
gagged by our artillery fire but nj
close fighting ensued.
Our fighters continued protec.
tive action over our land operations
throughout the day, while oul
boanbers again successfully engaged
targets in the rear"
Supply Ship Sunk
London, Feb. 10-(UP)-An ad.
miralty communique said today
that British submarines had s0nl
] heavily laden enemy supply shiI