DEFENCE OF SUEZ CANAL
ALTERNATIVE BASES AVAILABLE
BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM EGYPT
(From Our Own Correspondent.) « LONDON, May 18. The difference between the present and past military importance of Egypt, in the Middle East is that there are ?i? w alternative stations from which the Suez Canal and its approaches ca ? J 56 defended—though they may not be as satisfactory—whereas even 7 ears , ago there was none which could be considered a . real substitute,” says the military correspondent of “The Times.” “The highest importance which could be accorded to any was that of being supplement‘‘lt is in these circumstances that the British Government’s offer to Egypt has been made, presumably with the view that it is better to lose some strategic advantages than to cona s y stem of defence of the Middle East which could only be based on bad relations and mistrust. If withdrawal from Egypt can be linked to a firm treaty of alliance, with binding arrangements for the defence of Egypt and the Canal in time of danger, this may prove a fairly satisfactory solution of a difficult problem. On the other hand, it is well to look facts in the face and to admit that this solution would not have been reached from the purely military point of view had there been no political considerations in its favour. What are the alternative stations referred to? Palestine, Transjordan, the Sudan, Cyprus. Cyrenaica—and it must be owned that there is an ‘if’ of varying significance about the majority of these. “From the naval point of view there is no existing substitute for Alexandria, the nearest being Malta, and Malta’s value depends to a great extent upon there being no unfriendly Power in Sicily or on the North. African shore. It may wbll be, however, that the Mediterranean has ceased to be the realm of the big warship, in which case Alexandria becomes less indispensable. “However satisfactory the settlement may be. it will not be possible for the final withdrawal to take place for several years. The British possess? at present 150 depots containing £12.000.000 worth of stores, including a large quantity brought in from other theatres of the late war. The main depot at Tel el Kebir alone is 28 miles in circumference.
“There are huge repair shops at Alexandria for guns, tanks, and cars. There are cold-storage plants at Alexandria, Cairo. Suez, and Port Said, the capacity of the last-named being 4400 tons. There are a number of Army factories which had to be opened during the war. All these will take time to move, and there is no need to repeat the eternal laments about the present, shipping shortage. “A great deal which has been put into the country will remain behind, including railway tracks, water pipes, and the transit camps. These will be of considerable military value to Egypt and to the alliance, if it be happily achieved.”
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Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 5
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483DEFENCE OF SUEZ CANAL Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 5
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