EGYPT, SUEZ AND PALESTINE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 72, 1 July 1942, Page 4

EGYPT, SUEZ AND PALESTINE

WERE it not for a growing sense of concern at the gravity of the turn of events we would feel that we had every right to indulge in a fresh tirade of criticism at the mislea,ding and damaging broadcasts, which one day describe the position at Mersa Matruh "as both sides .being locked in battle" and twenty-four hours later describes the evacuation of that town—without a blow. It is hard enough to understand the statement, that we never, at any time, intended to hold Mersa, Matruh, when a glance at the map shows only desert separating that town from Alexandria. To-day Rommel is without argument, within striking distance of the heart of Egypt and the lifeline of Suez. It were idle to dispute it, and only the extreme length of his supply lines offsets the seriousness of the picture as it is presented to the Allied front. The hustling of the New Zealand Division from the: Syrian orange groves once more to the desert fighting - line is sufficient guide to the gravity of the new turn of events without any further reflection on the international sequences of the great German advance . The momentum of the invasive sweep can be guaged by the uncanny movement of the battle front day by day, and we have, the bitterness of contemplating Rommel's onward drive assisted by the plundered British army vehicles which have fallen into his hands. Criticism of the conduct of the Libyan campaign which must leap automatically to the lips of every thinking* Britisher is to _ day with the outlook growing grimmer, offset by that mounting sense of loyalty and affection which follows the movements of all our armies in either advance or retreat. Truly we have little to reflect on that makes for pride since the fateful pronouncement of Neville Chamberlain that we were "at war with Germany." From Norway to Dunkirk, from Greece and Crete to Libya, the contemplation of our arms is not pleasant. Truly we have emancipated Abyssinia, truly too, we have freed Italian Somaliland, but our chronicled history of the first three years of this war when finally recorded must prove a bitter page in history. It would seem too that Libya after the twofold price which has already been paid must figure as one of the bitterest chapters. Only the facts as they emerge from the mass of claims and counter claims from both sides can assist us towards the sober deduction of the true position, and steel us for the next the series of events which are now spelling Egypt's destiny. If we .feel that we have a right to criticise,, we can take some comfort in the fact that the storm of dissatisfaction which the news has evoked in. England must lead to reforms in army command or an altered outlook in the future policy of war conduct. Such is the force of the new waye of popular clamour that it cannot long be regarded.