425
General Wavell to General Freyberg

I have just returned from Iraq. Your magnificent fight is having a profound effect on the whole situation and will cripple the enemy elsewhere and wreck his plan for the Middle East. Every effort is being made to reinforce you, but you realise the difficulty; the weather, too, has prevented landing recently. The Air Force will do everything possible. The enemy has lost a high proportion of his aircraft and specially trained troops, and the survivors must be tired and dismayed at their reception. They were promised a cheap victory and are facing a costly defeat.