Evening star., 1943-02-25
British War Minister
Hints Early Action
For Canadians
Commons Speech Follows
Increasing Demand for
European Invasion
Ey the Associated Press.


| LONDON, Feb. 25.-War Min
lister Sir James Grigg said today
in the House of Commons that
he trusted impatient Canadian
soldiers here will not have to
wait much longer" for a mass at
tack against the enemy.
He made the observation as he
introduced a new British Army ap-
preparation bill
Sir James remarked that the
Canadians had been irked by the
| delay in engaging themselves in
bulk against the enemy"
I'VE trust that they will not have
to wait much longer and, when their
| chance does come, we know that
they will acquit themselves doughtiIy
and that the mother country as we'll
as the cause of civilization generally
will have abundant reason to be
grateful to them," he said.
Plans for Paratroops.
These remarks were preceded by
forecast that new fields of endeavor
would open for British parachute
troops, who participated on a large
scale in the North African opera
tions.
He also declared the British we're
ready to apply to 'other possible
| theaters OF operations" the lessons
OF close army air support and CO.
| operation learned in the Middle East
a cooperation which he described
as the most successful of the war.
Sir James hints of Forthcoming
new ventures for Allied arms CO.
incided with fresh manifestations Of
impatience at the delay in opening a
second front in Europe, high lighted
by a demand of Lord Beaverbrook
in the House of Lords for attacks on
the continent now from both Britain
and America.
The War Minister touched both on
! hazards of invasion and army re-
! forms intended to hasten the day
and strengthen the striking forces
for attack.
When the army goes abroad" he
said, the enemy can be expected to
sabotage and burn normal civilian
installations such as railways and
telegraph lines and the army will
have to build it's own"
He reported that 100, 900 men were
transferred to more active work
in the British Army in 1912.
Moved ls5, 200 Men.
He disclosed that the invasion of
French North Africa - launched
Jointly from Britain and the United
States, required the movement in
three weeks of 185 900 men, 10000
vehicles and 100000 tons OF supplies
from British camps to embarkati ton
points.
1t took 440 special troop trains,
$50 special freight trains aod $4,000
freight cars to do the Job. ne said.
Prime Minister Churchill, in his
recent war review following the
Casablanca conference. said that
roughly 100000 men in all were
landed in North Africa.
Betrayed by the weather, the AL
lies missed taking Tunisia by only
a narrow margin, he said.
He hailed the British 9th Army
as the finest instrument of wal
which SO far has been fashioned ir
the history of the British Empire ;
He said the dawn Is approaching
in Allied war fortunes, but that
there was long time to go to "tht
calm of evening"
Illustrating the size OF the tasl
OF maintaining British global forces
he said that 100000 tons of sup.
plies, 100000 British and American
men and $4,000 tanks, guns and We.
hicles had been sent around tn,
Cape OF Good Hope to various des.
tinationS during the last year.
But still more men are wanted fo,
the Army now that equipment 81
long lacking is available in vas
quantities, the War Minister said
Despite increased motorization. h.
reported, the army reduced gasoline
consumption at home and Is savine
5000 tons of rubber annually by
conservation methods.