740.0011 European War 1939/9946: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 14—8:40 a.m.]
253. The prevailing opinion in informed circles here regarding developments in Cyrenaica seems to be that the situation has stabilized somewhat but that it is still a question whether the British will be able [Page 268] to maintain their present positions. Tobruk is still being held but enemy forces are reported to be operating between Tobruk and Solium. Forces formerly engaged in East Africa have already begun to arrive and others are being sent from Palestine. The shortage of armored equipment is understood to be of great concern.
An encouraging feature of the situation is the heavy losses inflicted on German planes and particularly the effectiveness of fire by ground troops on dive bombers. Thus as a result of this toll on enemy planes and the alleged transfer of some German planes to the Balkans it is said that for the time being at least German aviation is not presenting as serious a problem as had been anticipated. On the other hand British air strength is still considered to be distinctly inadequate to meet existing requirements and the fact that many American planes shipped to this area have developed troubles rendering them unserviceable for immediate use has undoubtedly constituted a serious drawback in this respect.