HOTCHKISS     CAIRO     OPNAV     PPPPPPP
 
21 DECEMBER 1941
     1429/21
SMITH
 
     REISS
 
               192300 cr0177
 
FOLLOWING STRICLTLY CONFIDENTIAL FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM BULLITT-
"THE BRITISH ARE HANDLING THE SITUATION HERE BETTER THAN WAS
 
INDICATED BY THE REPORTS RECIEVED IN WASHINGTON BEFORE MY
DEPARTURE.
 
I BELIEVE THAT LITTLETON AUCHINLECK AND THE REST ARE DOING AS GOOD A
JOB AS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE INADEQUATE MEANS AT THEIR DISPOSAL
 
AGAINST A DETERMINED ENEMY LED BY A SOLDIER OF GENIUS ROMEL.  ROMEL
HAS AGAIN ESCAPED AN EXCELLENT TRAP SET FOR HIM BUT THERE ARE AT
 
THIS MOMENT NOT MORE THAN 30 GERMAN TANKS IN CONDITION TO FIGHT.  IN
ADDITION ROMMEL HAS APPROXIMATELY 30 ITALIAN TANKS AND A NUMBER OF
 
ARMOURED VEHICLES AND APPROXIMATELY 60,000 INFANTRY.  ROMMELS
FORCES ARE ALL ON THIS SIDE OF BENGHAZI EXCEPT ONE ITALIAN DIVISION IN
 
TRIPOLI WHICH IS REPORTED TO BE LOW IN HEALTH AND MORALE.  IF THE
BRITISH CAN GET TO BENGHAZI AS THEY EXPECT THEY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO
 
PUSH ON TO TRIPOLI AND THE TUNISIAN FRONTIER, BUT IT IS 1450 MILES
BY THE ONLY ROAD FROM THE BRITISH BASE IN CAIRO TO THE FRONTIER OF
 
TUNISIA.  27 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS ARE USED BY THE 
SOLDIERS OF AUCHINLECKS ARMY AND A BRIGADE OF FREE FRENCH FROM
SYRIA IS ABOUT TO BE ADDED... CONTINUED
 
DISTRIBUTION ....ACTION       SEALED SECRET FILE
     PRES US