Post by Diarist on Jun 24, 2015 17:17:45 GMT 1
We arrived at the hotel in the early - yes, we. Sally is with me! General Gort gave me his approval this morning. We were met at the airport by an Embassy car and a couple of security personnel. At the hotel Admiral Keyes and WOI Thomas Shaw had already arrived. I had a private working dinner with the Admiral while Shaw entertained Sally.
I informed Admiral Keyes about Monday's meeting. I reported that there was general approval concerning the changes made but they were somewhat apprehensive about using 3rd Infantry Division as a floating reserve. It would be a very large commitment. He agreed but if we need extra troops it's better to have them in theatre instead of having to wait for them to come from England. He said that the French are going to commit an extra Motorized Division, the 15th, stationed in Dijon.
He told me briefly about things in Africa. The Italians appear to be relying heavily on native formations. A whole Corps in Eritrea consists of local troops and in Somaliland there is only one Italian division plus some Blackshirts of questionable value. In Kenya we have been training a company-sized unit how to use the Enfield rifle. They are to go back to Ethiopia as instructors together with 20,000 rifles. The remaining rifles received will be used for Kenyan forces.
In Sudan, their forces are being expanded and it is hoped to have two more Brigades by the end of August. They won't be fully trained but will be able to secure lines of communication and garrison duties. He said that the documents he gave have lists of our air assets plus recommendations for further units. There are 5 Ethiopian squadrons equipped with Fairey IIIF aircraft. The squadron leaders are foreign volunteers with air combat experience who double-up as instructors. The Italians are in for a surprise if they start this war. There should be 5 more squadrons by the end of August - we have the aircraft and enough volunteers. The question is when do we transfer the aircraft to Ethiopian control. After Mussolini has committed himself is Admiral Keyes recommendation - I agree with him. The days that we try to deter Mussolini are over.
The Italian Navy spends most of its time in port so hopefully they'll be there when we enter the conflict. The submarine squadron in Eritrea is our largest concern. If they are out on patrol it will be difficult to locate them.
I told him that I had no idea what documents I gave him. Almost all of them came from the MoD. He laughed saying that they were letters for personnel in Gibraltar. I'm their postman. He'll be flying back to Gibraltar early tomorrow morning and WOI Shaw is going to TRADOC to take LTC Patton's slot for parachute training. Never waste a slot!
That means a free day tomorrow - in Lisbon - with Sally - and Thomas Shaw.
I informed Admiral Keyes about Monday's meeting. I reported that there was general approval concerning the changes made but they were somewhat apprehensive about using 3rd Infantry Division as a floating reserve. It would be a very large commitment. He agreed but if we need extra troops it's better to have them in theatre instead of having to wait for them to come from England. He said that the French are going to commit an extra Motorized Division, the 15th, stationed in Dijon.
He told me briefly about things in Africa. The Italians appear to be relying heavily on native formations. A whole Corps in Eritrea consists of local troops and in Somaliland there is only one Italian division plus some Blackshirts of questionable value. In Kenya we have been training a company-sized unit how to use the Enfield rifle. They are to go back to Ethiopia as instructors together with 20,000 rifles. The remaining rifles received will be used for Kenyan forces.
In Sudan, their forces are being expanded and it is hoped to have two more Brigades by the end of August. They won't be fully trained but will be able to secure lines of communication and garrison duties. He said that the documents he gave have lists of our air assets plus recommendations for further units. There are 5 Ethiopian squadrons equipped with Fairey IIIF aircraft. The squadron leaders are foreign volunteers with air combat experience who double-up as instructors. The Italians are in for a surprise if they start this war. There should be 5 more squadrons by the end of August - we have the aircraft and enough volunteers. The question is when do we transfer the aircraft to Ethiopian control. After Mussolini has committed himself is Admiral Keyes recommendation - I agree with him. The days that we try to deter Mussolini are over.
The Italian Navy spends most of its time in port so hopefully they'll be there when we enter the conflict. The submarine squadron in Eritrea is our largest concern. If they are out on patrol it will be difficult to locate them.
I told him that I had no idea what documents I gave him. Almost all of them came from the MoD. He laughed saying that they were letters for personnel in Gibraltar. I'm their postman. He'll be flying back to Gibraltar early tomorrow morning and WOI Shaw is going to TRADOC to take LTC Patton's slot for parachute training. Never waste a slot!
That means a free day tomorrow - in Lisbon - with Sally - and Thomas Shaw.