GREAT BRITAIN: Let's Go!

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In North Africa's snow-smeared Atlas mountains, Winston Churchill relaxed with easel and paints for a day at his favorite hobby, landscape painting. Then he bade good-by to his good friend Franklin Roosevelt and headed eastward for Turkey.

At an obscure railway siding at Adana, Churchill and his party camouflaged themselves as tourists (shorts and shotguns) to meet Turkey's Premier Sükrü Saracoglu. The Turks were pleased by Churchill's visit, stayed eloquently mum about the prospects of their joining the Allies.

In an air commodore's uniform Churchill stopped off at the British-held isle of Cyprus. There he gave what many believed was a tip-off on the Allied invasion plan for Europe. Said he: "I have seen those powerful armies [in North Africa]. . . . They will soon turn north across the Mediterranean. . . ."

Churchill had already called on Egypt's King Farouk and Premier Mustafa El Nahas Pasha in Cairo. In Tripoli, on his way home, he clasped the victorious hand of General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery.

Back in London this week, Churchill looked fit and tanned. Hundreds of Britons at Paddington Station cheered him, looked longingly at the crates of fresh fruit he brought back.

But more than cheers awaited Churchill. Britain was on edge. The House of Commons was anxious to hear his report on the Casablanca conference. M.P.s hoped that he brought also favorable news of the military situations in Tunisia.

Last summer Britain squirmed uneasily through the agitation for a second front. Now the Times renewed the cry. So did Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express. Said the Times: "If the moment cannot be seized before the impetus of the Russian advance is exhausted, the enemy may gain breathing space for recuperation. . . ." Said the Express: "The resources of Britain and America must make ready to take over the burden. They must lose not a day, not an hour."

In Whitehall Churchill immediately conferred with his Cabinet. He summoned Parliamentary leaders and military men to 10 Downing Street. He had much to tell.