Extract from letter from General Auchinleck         
 
                                                            
                     to Prime Minister                      
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
Three days ago I spent a morning in the Desert outside Cairo 
      with the 4th Armoured Brigade and watched them training in their 
      new American tanks and shooting from them. There is no doubt 
      that they are excellent machines, very handy and really maneuverable 
      and fast. Our officers are delighted with their reliability and 
      endurance when compared with our own tanks, and are frankly amazed 
      at the length of time they can be kept in work without having 
      to go into the shops to be overhauled. We have had to make a 
      good many minor alterations and adjustments to make these tanks 
      battle worthy, such as fitting wireless sets, driving water tanks, 
      &c., but these have not caused any appreciable delay in their 
      issue to the troops, as many of the alterations can be and are 
      carried out in an hour or two by the unit itself.