Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, SEPT. 20, 1940. THE ITALIAN MOVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 251, 20 September 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, SEPT. 20, 1940. THE ITALIAN MOVE.

While tlie inhabitants of Britain stand supremely confident of the successful outcome of whatever trials may yet be in store for them —an attitude fortified by hard facts of the war to date and the tangible admiration of their kith and kin throughout the Empire—a new phase has developed in the Middle East on which fresh attention will be fixed, particularly by New Zealanders, whose men are in Egypt. The Italian advance from Libya into Egypt along the Mediterranean shore is under way, though the land forces have not yet come to grips, and while the strength of the Italians has not been fully revealed in the messages so far received, observers in Egypt take the advance as a real step in the plan to capture Alexandria. Meanwhile, Egypt awaits the full development of the situation with studied calm, the journal of the same name summing up the position to date by declaring the Italian advance cannot be described as an attack, since no land opposition has yet been offered. In fact, so far as the Allies and Egypt are concerned the strategy is strictly in accordance with thb plan to force the 'invaders to undertake an arduous and dangerous operation along a difficult road. It is true that they have encroached upon- Egyptian territory, but the defending forces stand ready to strike at the right moment. The British Navy and Fleet Air Arm are harassing the Italians’ lines with considerable success. The Italians are reported to have an apparently efficient water supply, but on the coast the distances between drinkable water are not so great. 1 The importance of Mersa Matruh, 150 miles from the Libyan border, is its water, and for this reason it is fortified.

It is likely to be Mersa Matruh at which the main clash will take place with the Italians,, and opinion seems to be agreed that to attack this strong outpost with any chance of success the invaders must be prepared to sustain heavy casualties. But first they must reach 'there with their forces, necessitating the transporting of enough water for thousands of men and their motorised weapons, among other essentials. It is valuable to recall the campaign in 1915-16 against the Senussi in w T hich two battalions of the New Zealand Rifle’ Brigade participated, similar strategy to that of the present day being adopted. The garrisons were withdrawn from Solium and Sidi Barrani, and the operations were based on Mersa Matruh, where the enemy were broken, enabling the former posts to be occupied again at leisure. Mersa Matruh has been organised for resistance on a large scale, and it would not be surprising were the same tactics to be adopted. Field fortifications have been built over a wide area and there is a pleni-

tude of water to supply the garrison. It is not too much to expect that this erstwhile famous summer time resort of Antony and Cleopatra, and the present railhead of the line from Alexandria, will witness a resounding defeat for the Italian forces in good time.