HOTCHKISS, CAIRO OPNAV DEC.21, 1941 SMITH/PITKIN R.V.ROBINSON 192300 (CONTINUED) PART 2-192315 CR 0178 PART 3-192330 CR 0176 PART 4-192345 CR 0180 STRICTLY PRESIDENTIAL FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM BULLITT- AS YOU ARE AWARE, BUT FEW PERSONS IN WASHINGTON REALIZE, THE FIGHTING IN THIS AREA IS BEING CARRIED ON BY COMPARITIVELY TINY FIGHTING FORCES. THEREFORE A SLIGHT INCREASE OR DIMUNITION IN FORCE HERE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEFEAT AND VICTORY. IN VIEW OF THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF NORTH AFRICA FOR AN ULTIMATE ATTACK ON ITALY AND GERMANY, AND IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A BRITSH ARMY ON THE EASTERN BORDER OF TUNISIA RATHER THAN A GERMAN ARMY, AND IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE ENEMY IS NOW ON THE RUN I BELIEVE THAT (1) IT WOULD BE FOLLY TO WITHDRAW FORCES OF ANY KIND FROM THIS AREA NOW. (2) THAT THE FORCES NOW HERE SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED IN ANY WAY THAT WILL NOT REDUCE FORCES WHICH ARE VITALLY NEEDED AT OTHER POINTS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM FOR DELIVERIES HERE OF AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT EQUIPTMENT, ,30 AND .50 AMMUNITION, 250 LB. BOMBS AND 500 LB. BOMBS AND MOTOR TRANSPORT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISION TO OTHER AREAS. IT IS VITAL THAT THE PROGRAM FOR DELIVERY OF KITTY-HAWK SP-40'S, BOSTONS A-20 AND BALTIMORES MARTIN BOMBERS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE PROJECTS WHICH WERE STARTED BY GENERAL BRETT SHOULD BE CARRIED THROUGH. IN VIEW OF SERIOUS GERMAN ATTEMPTS TO REINFORCE THIS THEATRE OF WAR NOTABLY BY THE TRANSFER OF THE ENTIRE 2ND GERMAN AIR CORPS FROM THE MOSCOW FRONT TO ITALY AND FLIGHTS OF PLANES OF THIS AIR CORPS TO LIBYA, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE SUCCESS (CONTINUED ON SHEET 2) |