Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The British Commonwealth, The Soviet Union, The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/7274: Telegram

The Minister in Egypt (Fish) to the Secretary of State

[Extract]

Cairo, December 26, 1940—10 a.m.
[Received December 27—9:40 a.m.]

370. For War Department. Colonel Brower²⁴ returned to Egypt 19th from Greece. Going to desert today. He supplements Major Feller’s report No. 1806 as follows.

Recent operation originally planned for January as flank attack on anticipated Italian advance. Italians failed to advance, plan converted to limited attack on Sidi Barrani. Surprise complete due extreme secrecy. Weak resistance and captured supplies permitted British advance beyond all expectation. Air force western desert had been reenforced from Sudan and England by direct route …

Fish

24. Col. Gerald E. Brower, observer and Assistant Military Attaché in Egypt.