The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-05
Prime Minister Returns to London; Secrecy ClOaks
 Hour, Place ALLIED FORCES STAND READY FOR ZERO HOUR Pause in Mediterranean War Ending; Italians Ask
 Achievements
BY JAMES ROPER United Press Staff COrrespondent)

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 London, June 5. - (UP) - Prime Minister Churchill re- turned to London today after paying a flying visit to North Africa, presumably to give final orders to Allied armies for an invasion of Europe that now can be expected momentarily. Churchill flew to Algiers from Gibraltar on his way back from Washington, where he and President Roosevelt. along with their top military. air and naval advisers, concluded ser- ies of conferences on global war strategy more than week ago
 It was assumed here that Chur- chill personally delivered the in- structions worked out in Washing ton to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. supreme Allied commander in the Mediterranean. and his American, British and French subordinates.
 ANtANAl4 flllN Nllt EI Ndl'Sl SItItCy cloaks the hour and place for at-> tack, but it is believed that the Al- lied forces now stand ready for the zero hour.
 Islands First Attack? l.
 Lacking any official adYices. mili- tary experts saw no reason to change their speculation that the Allies first will attack the Mediter- ranean stepping stone islands, such as Pantelleria, Sicily, Sardinia, Crete or the DodeCanese.
 The theory that final plans for the Allied blow at the soft rrderbelly" of Europe were delivered to Eisen- hover was strengthened by the sn- nouncement that Churchill was &C., companied by Gen. Sir Alan Brooke, chief of the British Imperial Gen. oral Staff.
 Churchill arrived in Gibraltar a week ago and proceeded directly to Algiers to visit Eisenhower's head quarters where he was joined by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden.
 Significantly, the diplomatic cor- respondent of the authoritative Press Association said Eden was summoned to North Africa because Important decisions" to be made there required his presence.
 Since reliable sources agreed these decisions had nothing to do with the discussions between French Gems. Charles Henri Honore Giraud and Charles De Gaulle. it was as- sumed that Eden was called to the scene to participate in conferences relating to the impending invasion or inyasionS.
 The importance of the discussions could be guaged by the fact that Eden's presence was deemed essen- tial despite the fact that Britain permanently retain special minis ter, Harold, MaCMillan, in North Africa.
 While there was no sign when the invasion will come, 1t appeared cer- tain that the pause in the Mediter- ranean war is ending
 The Italians too, were fully cog nizant Of the threat to their Medi- terranean islands. Madrid dispatch es earlier in the week reported that Pantc!!eria, in the Slciliap NarroWs, is under state of urgent alarm while the garrisons on both Sicily and Sardinia have been placed in a state Of readiness.
 Italian military experts were quot ed by Madrid as urgently pleading for troop achievements and addi- tional anti-aircraft guns, fighter planes and radio detection devices to repel any Allied thrusts,
 Prom Algiers, Churchill, Eden Brooke and the North African com manders went to Tunis, where the Axis has reported concentrations of Allied invasion craft, and northwest Africa. where they inspected British and United States forces who prob ably will play q leading role in the coming invasion
 Soon after his arrival in London
 Continued on Page 2)