Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1940. THE BALKAN CONFLICT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 October 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1940. THE BALKAN CONFLICT.

A.S yet the position arising out of the Italian attack on Greece is poorly defined. With an army of good fighting quality, though ill-provided with modern equipment, the Greeks are holding their frontier and Britain, in fulfilment of her guarantee has been quick to promise them, in Mr Churchill’s words, ‘■'all the help in. our power.” That the mainland and island territories of Greece will be defended resolutely is not in doubt, but much must depend upon the further development of the Axis plans of attack and upon the policy of the other Balkan .1 States and of Russia. -Britain and her Allies are to some extent in the position of awaiting developments, but in these developments they may find openings for grasping the initiative and for positive action. ' ' j Particularly interesting questions are raised regarding the naval situation. Thus far the Italian fleet has not only failed to justify the pre-war boasts made on its behalf by Mussolini and others, but has manifested at all times a disposition to keep out of harm’s way in its harbours of refuge. If, however, the Axis contemplates a full-powered offensive in the Eastern Mediterranean, it must presumably be prepared to throw the Italian fleet unreservedly into the scale. An effective bid for the possession of Greek seaports must imply naval action, as well as attack on land and in the air. The emergence of the Italian fleet from its retirement no doubt is a development for which Britain is well prepared. In any broadening and extension of the Axis attack, the attitude of Balkan States other than Greece of course is of cardinal importance. Yugoslavia ha's declared her neutrality, but her fate is as obviously at stake as that of Greece. In the event of an Axis victory, her independence and integrity would speedily be things of the past. .Much depends also on Bulgaria and particularly on whether she is prepared to become either an active ally of the Axis, or to grant an unimpeded passage through her territory to Axis troops. The Turkish Premier, Dr Saydam, has declared that: “The situation is becoming graver and graver. We shall not hesitate to defend ourselves.” Turkey has not yet, however, “officially declared her attitude regarding . .the latest Axis aggression.” It is obvious that she must act in good time if the Straits are to be Safeguarded and that her prospects of defending these vital waterways might be jeopardised if she left Greece to light unaided. Turkey is guaranteed by Britain and is pledged to aid Britain in the event of aggression by a European Power leading to war in the Mediterranean, with the proviso that the pledge is not to apply against Russia. The Turkish Prime Minister’s latest declaration is in keeping with a number of statements that Turkey will defend her territory and fulfil her obligations. It is not yet clear whether the Axis Powers intend at once to broaden and extend their attack, or will be content to concentrate meantime upon the invasion of Greece in the hope of being able to establish in’that country an advantageous base for a further onslaught. Whatever its intended immediate scale may be, there is little enough doubt that the Italian action, as was suggested in a cablegram from New York yesterday, is a preliminary move towards a more serious situation, relating to the whole Balkan picture. It must be hoped that this view of the matter will carry full weight with Turkey as well as with Britain. One very important point to be considered is that active alliance with Greece, and of course the successful defence of at least a substantial, part of that country’s territory, would give Britain access to aerodromes from which she could launch effective air attacks on enemy bases in Albania and further afield—for example in Rumania. Still more advantageous openings for air attack would be afforded if Turkey entered the war, for the Axis bases and communications in the Northern Balkans might then be bombed easily from the Black Sea. The Greek Air Force is of no great strength. It is said to possess only about 200 machines and these not of the most modern type. So far as her own resources are concerned, Greece is thus not well placed to retaliate upon the bombing attacks to which her cities are already being subjected by the Italians. The .outlook may be changed speedily, however, if British aircraft are brought into play. It has already been pointed out, by the British Embassy in Cairo, that the historical value of Athens, which has been bombed by the Italians, is no less than that of Rome and that the bombing of the Greek capital may raise the question of retaliation on Rome, for which Mussolini seeks immunity as an open city. In any case there are many important objectives in Italy which are well within striking distance from bases in Greece.