IMPORTANCE OF CYRENAICA

Southland Times, Issue 24835, 29 August 1942, Page 5

IMPORTANCE OF CYRENAICA

Base For Air Power To Protect Fleet (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) ALEXANDRIA, August 27. The establishment of a new organization to effect closer co-operation between air, surface and submarine forces in the Mediterranean was announced by the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, in his first interview since he succeeded Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham. Admiral Harwood said that adequate air support for the British Fleet was at present available for only a relatively short distance westwards of Alexandria. Geography and air power were the essence of naval power in the Mediterranean. Axis air bases hi Crete, Sicily, Greece and the Dodecanese and other islands, also along the Libyan coast, seriously and continuously threatened the British Fleet’s operations. Adequate air protection was essential for any successful normal operation, although there were times when it was necessary for warships to risk all to carry out vital tasks. The strong Allied air forces in the area would be unable fully to protect the fleet and simplify its work until the Allies took Cyrenaica, thus providing more forward aerodromes. Admiral Harwood expressed the opinion that the Axis powers used air transport extensively, as well as ships, to reinforce Field-Marshal Rommel. There was no way of knowing the quantities and types of Axis equipment and reinforcements reaching Egypt, but Allied ships were continually cutting at the enemy’s supply lines. The Navy also was shelling enemy shore positions when practicable.