NOTES ON THE WAR NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 10

NOTES ON THE WAR NEWS

BATTLE OF CRETE

THE LARGER STRATEGY

DIFFICULTIES FOR BRITAIN

The Battle of Crete, as it has come to be called, continues, for it is not a series of sporadic raids of air-borne enemy troops, but a determined attempt to conquer the island. It is believed, states the news, that the Germans have been, using a full air-borne division of about 7000 men, including artill«!Yy, anti-tank' weapons, a machine-gun company, motor-cycle dispatch riders, medical and other personnelMany seem to be dressed in the uniforms of the defenders, British and New Zealand. 'This certainly adds to the difficulties. According to Mr. Churchill, in his latest statement to the House of Commons, most of the troops dropped from the air in the Suda Bay region have been accounted for and the situation generally is said to be,in hand. Landings have been made in other areas, no doubt with casualties due to crashes, and there are still many of the enemy at large. There are unconfirmed reports of landings from the sea also, and further attempts by both air and sea are anticipated. Summing up, Mr. Churchill said: "Of course, we must expect the fighting to continue and to increase in severity." The Germans are reported to be confident of taking the island "in the next few hours." Unique Operation. The enemy in their unique operation against Crete are aided by many .circumstances peculiar to tliis region. The configuration of the island itself, long and narrow and so packed with mountains that land communications are difficult, with its useful harbours and beaches for disembarkation almost all on the north coast nearest to the mainland of Greece and Aegean islands, all in the hands of the enemy, and its few available aerodromes for defence, makes possible isolated landings at many spots where the enemy might rally and muster for further operations. Much will depend on the capacity of the local population to deal with these isolated parties. The Cretans, by tradition and training, should be good at the job. Another favourable factor for attack is that the Aegean Sea at this time of the year is usually so calm that small craft can safely cross the gaps-of water in the archipelago and make surprise descents on the long Cretan coastline. How this can be accomplished has been shown by the adventurous voy-j ages of survivors of the Olympus cam-, paign who escaped from the mainland in small boats. Strategic Advantage. It is, however, in the larger strategy of the war that the Germans have advantages, conferred by their » geographical position, which are difficult to combat. The central position of Germany in Europe enabled her to make radiating attacks on surrounding countries in orderly sequence, until she now controls Europe from the North Cape in Norway in the north to Cape: Matapan in Greece (on the latitude of; Gibraltar) in the south; and from the 1 Bay of Biscay in the west to the Black Sea on the east. While the shifting of land troops over this vast region by rail and road may be slow, it is not so slow as the transport of troops by sea fc under conditions of modern warfare? But the chief advantage is in the air, and it is here that the handicap to Britain is the most serious. With all the aerodromes of occupied and Axis Europe under command, Germany can carry on full air war-.' fare, including the transport of troops, against any country within range Of fighter aircraft. Fighter , aircraft are mentioned, because they can not only protect their own heavier and slower bombers and troop-carriers at the base aerodromes, but also against enemy aircraft when the bigger machines are taking the offensive, as against Crete. The method of attack used against pur aerodromes in the Battle of Greece "is the same in the Battle of Crete—twofold; first Messerschmitts and divebombers and then troop-carriers and gliders.and parachutists. British• aerodromes in Crete, less than 100 miles from the Greek-mainland, are vulnerable to this form of attack, as they were in Thessaly and elsewhere. Similar methods of air attack are. undoubtedly harassing to naval bases also, ar. the experience of Malta has shown. The successful defence of Crete therefore will depend to an unusual degree —for an island—on the spirit and energy and skill of the armed forces and citizenry of the defenders. The whole position illustrates once more the almost vital effect of local air superiority. Wherever that has been attained—by the Germans in Poland, Norway, the Lowlands, France,.and the Balkans, by the British in East and North Africa, the results have been decisive. Britain's Burdens. In surveying the results of the war to date it is only fair to take the strategic difficulties of the British Empire, into account. Britain herself, the bastion of the whole defence, has by the collapse of France been exposed for nearly a year to'the full force of the.German air attack at short range and to the threat of invasion at any moment. This has meant the retention in Britain of large land and air,forces, which, if they had oeen available in the Middle East, might have enabled the Imperial armies to take the offen- - sive, instead of, generally, having to leave the' initiative to the enemy—a great advantage in warfare—and to remain on the defensive. The Navy has . similarly been overburdened with its > multifarious and almost superhuman tasks of guarding the seas, in the Battle of the Atlantic and elsewhere, in every ocean, and at the same time in maintaining our position in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. These tasks have been imposed on the Empire by the collapse of France, the entry of Italy into the war, the inability, of neutrals to help themselves, and the indifference, or even veiled hostility, of Powers allied or at least friendly to us in the last war. On the other hand, there is the friendship of the most powerful nation in the world, the United States, to whom, in these critical days, it may be not unreasonable to look for further help. Help Most Needed. It is in the Middle East that help is most needed now in view of the attitude of the Vichy Government, in Syria and the rumour that Stalin may be inclined to throw in his lot - with Hitler. For the moment the crisis is not acute. The Italo-Germans are being held at Solium, the Abyssinian affair is practically liquidated, and an important advance has been made by our forces in Irak to the Euphrates bridgehead at FalJLuja, covering the approach to Bagdad. But it cannot be assumed that the position will remain stable long. There is urgent need for i reinforcement in men and munitions. I The report that American-planes are ! being used against Irak is welcome as 1 a forerunner of more to come, .