NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 292, 8 September 1942, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

A notably cautious view of the position on the Egyptian fighting front is being taken in all news messages. This is understandable in the light of past experience with the wily Axis commander, Marshal Rommel, whose “slow and deliberate withdrawal” during the weekend from positions which appeared very threatening a few days ago may be part of a prepared plan. There seems no doubt that reverses were inflicted on the enemy during the recent engagements, and that the test was much more than a mere skirmish. But it is equally clear that the Italo-German forces did not essay a full-scale attack, and prisoners’ tales about Rommel remarking, “Now, boys, we’re off to Cairo,” sound quite unreal. When the time comes for the fate of Cairo and Egypt to be decided on the desert battlefield, there is unlikely to be much doubt about the matter. Rommel has come a long way, and by all accounts he is the sort of man who will make a determined bid. But he is up against a veteran army, experienced in his trickery, very strongly positioned, and better equipped than ever. Moreover, it is an army compactly situated with short lines of communication, as against the enemy’s long, strun.g-out desert holdings. Its leaders —newly chosen for an exacting task—have probably the best opportunity of methodically breaking down the enemy’s strength, before finally hurling him back, which has yet presented itself in this strange, shifting campaign.

Citizens will warmly endorse the statement by the chairman of the New Zealand-America -Friendship Group (Major Kirk) to the effect that a ceremonial parade of United. States troops in Wellington would be a timely and popular event. As Major Kirk has pointed out, such a parade would provide opportunity for the public to extend a mass welcome to the visitors, and to demonstrate feelings which have been difficult to express in the circumstances of the recent past. The proposal is, of course, one to be considered by the American military authorities themselves, and any proposed arrangement would have to be fitted into their already busy programme of organization. If this can be done without interfering with essential tasks, the-community will be eagerly appreciative. As a compliment to the visitors, opportunity might well be taken by the New Zealand defence authorities to include in such a parade representative detachments of this country’s fighting forces. Several of the new Service branches have yet to be formally introduced to the public, and this would seein a good occasion to present them. There has been very little of military pageantry in Wellington since the war began, and a parade of uniformed personnel serving under two flags would be a colourful, inspiring break in the routine of national effort, as well as an added encouragement to voluntary recruitment. These incidental objects should combine very happily with a whole-hearted, public greeting to our American comrades.