Assumes Post as Right-Hand Man of the Prime Minister; Other Changes London, May 2. [ORD Beaverbrook, Minister for Aircraft Production, has been appointed Minister of State, in a Cabinet reshuffle which is heartily welcomed by the Press.
Lord Beaverbrook's post has been taken over by Lt.-Colonel John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, Minister of Transport Mr. Ronald Hibbert Cross, Minister of Shipping, has been appointed High Commissioner for Australia.
Mr. Frederick James Leathers, Coal Adviser tothe Min istry of Shipping, becomes Minister of Shipping and Transport combined.
The once of Minister of State, 10 which Lord Beaverbrook has been appointed. is rarely employed. and his new title undoubtedly" was chosen Because it wus sential to ud one other name for a non-departmental ofice, "Others in this category are: Mr, C. Rs Atlee, Lord Privy Soul and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons: Sir John, "Anderson, Lord President. of the Council: and Mr. Arthur Greenwood, Minister with out Portfolio.
Mr. Leathers comes from outside politics toa Ministerial office. He has been male a Baron and Member of Fight Still Progressing At Tobruk London, May 2.
No further news is available re~' Jgarding the situation at Tobruk, and the battle is still in progress, The Germans launched an attack at night, penetrating the south-western outer perimeter. The enemy now appears be between the outer and inner Jdefences, where' fighting is now in Tt is stressed that this does not necessarily mean that the whole forces holding the outer defences have been overcome: groups may still be defending some posts on the: Jouter perimeter, Patrols have been active in the Sollum area, but as far as is known the enemy Has not made any further advance, Though the Germans are probably trying to push a maximum number of troops into the Libyan operations, it is believed in London that repotts that they have brought lup ten or 12 divisions are excessive.
In Abyssinia the British have now reached a point eight miles north of Amba Alagi, but progress is slow lowing to road demolitions. The Bri~ tish have also advanced from Dessie towards Assab and Gendar, In Des-sie. they have found 3,000 more Htaifon civilians, 1,000 of whom ore women and children.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.