The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1940. THREAT TO EGYPT.

Evening Star, Issue 23684, 18 September 1940, Page 6

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1940. THREAT TO EGYPT.

Thk advance of the Italian forces from Libya into Egyptian territory leaves no room for doubt that Mussolini is ou the verge of launching his campaign for the acquisition of a vast Roman empire on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Despatches state that the Italians are advancing across the Egyptian frontier at several points and are throwing in regulars, Blackshirts, mechanised units, and camel corps. Marshal Graziani, who has had experience of desert warfare against native tribesmen, is in command, and it is reported that his thrust along the sea coast will bo followed by general activity by the Italian army against Kenya, as well as along the border of the AngloEgyptian Sudan. For the attack on Egypt, with the Suez Canal as an important objective, Graziani is stated to have not less than 250,000 men at his command. Not all of these will be Europeans, but it is likely enough that the army is sufficiently well trained and equipped to constitute a menace to the defending troops. It is not the Italians’ way to start attacking unless numerical odds are in their favour. What the Fascist leaders have probably overlooked, however, is the fact that in the new campaign which they appear to have opened up their troops will be faced not by poorly-armed guerrilla tribesmen, minus aeroplanes and armoured units, but by a modem army of fighting men of whose quality they have so far had only a taste in outpost skirmishing. The British troops stationed in Egypt have always had faith in their ability to stem the Italian tide, and within the past few weeks they have been heavily reinforced by regiments with active service in Belgium and France to their credit. Most likely a 1 great deal has been accomplished towards making up for the loss of the major portion of the French army in the Middle East. Graziani, then, will not find the path to Suez an easy one. He will, in point of fact, never reach that objective.

The latest news is that the Italians have progressed some sixty miles east of the Libyan frontier. Apart from strategic harassing by the British forces, they have met with little opposition over the apparently useless stretches of territory so far covered. The time will come, perhaps very soon, when the resistance to the inroads will he seriously and grimly stiffened. The British, among whom are men from our own Dominion, have not been in the western desert all these months doing nothing but routine garrison duty. Command of good water wells is an important factor in campaigning of this nature, and that is why places like Mersa Matruh have been so frequently mentioned in news of British activity. Mersa Matruh has beeu called the key to Egypt’s defences in the west. Not only is it the railhead of the coast railway line to Alexandria, but it is also favoured with good drinking water —practically the only drinking water for hundreds of miles around. Correspondents to London newspapers report the presence of strong fortifications in the vicinity, so that, whatever is happening at the moment, the Italians seem to have in store for them an ordeal which may discourage even the most aggressive Fascist troops. But, as Mersa Matruh is fully 150 miles from the Libyan border, it is unlikely that no attempt will be made to stop the advancing enemy before that point is reached. The onus is on the Italians to transport large quantities of water for men and the radiators of mechanised units, and it .may be regarded as certain that they will suffer hardships and heavy casualties long before they approach the neighbourhood of Mersa Matruh, if over they do get so far. Another obstacle to Italian progress besides a determined British defence should be the Egyptian Government’s fulfilment of its intention to stand side by side with Great Britain in defence of the country in the event of an invasion. Some time ago the British and Egyptian forces held joint manoeuvres, and it was then proved that Egypt was militarily stronger than at any previous period in its history.