Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1940. AN ITALIAN OVERTURE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1940. AN ITALIAN OVERTURE.

q. QOME emphatic warnings have been sounded of late in London that, the Greeks have yet to feel the full weight of the Italian attack on their territory. Looking at the relative resources of the two countries, where numbers of men and weight oi. material are concerned, these warnings seem to be hilly warranted. Thus far, it is true, the Greeks have acquitted themselves most gallantly. The Italians are now reported to have advanced some twenty miles in the coastal zone of Epirus but elsewhere- the Greeks have not only held their own, but have carried the war into the enemy’s country. It. remains true, however, that the lightly-equipped Greek forces are opposed by a powerful mechanised army. Even with the northern winter near at hand and conditions in prospect in which tlie movement of armoured vehicles will be greatly hampered, it is too soon to assume that the Italians will not be able to break through the Greek defences by' weight of materia] and numbeis. There are some gratifying indications that the Italians are disconcerted by the valour and resolution of the Greek opposition, but it would be unwise to build too much on these indications. Account has to be taken, amongst other things, of the possibility' that the Italians may' be stiffened and supported in one way' or another by’ German troops, as they’ were in Spain. Then again there are obvious limitations on the help that Britain can give to Greece. Quick and effective action is being taken in the establishment of naval and air bases in the Greek islands and these dispositions, apart from the immediate support and relief afforded to the invaded country, have a profoundly’ important bearing on the total situation and outlook in the Mediterranean. As has already been demonstrated in action, they’ lay open to attack vital areas in Italy which hitherto have been out of reach. It is not within the bounds of reason, however, to expect Britain to establish a great and powerful army in the path of the Italian invaders of Greece. Action of that nature is the less to be considered since there is every reason to believe that the invasion of Greece by the Italians is only a part —perhaps only a subordinate part —of the aggression now planned by' the Axis Powers in and beyond the Balkans. It -was reported yesterday, in direct contradiction of other recent reports, that powerful German forces had been poured into Rumania. Describing the Nazi occupation of that country as all-pervading, the Istanbul correspondent of the London “Times” said that 18 divisions would be a moderate estimate, of the strength of the German forces that had been established in Rumania at the end of September. By’ this lime, these forces may’ have been increased greatly. It is not in doubt in any case that Rumania is completely at the disposal of the Nazis as a base from which to extend aggression, and the defeat Germany’ has suffered in her air attacks on Britain and in the smashing of her preparations for the' invasion of that country’ makes it highly’ probable that she will make every’ effort to turn her south-eastern base to account.

It seems altogether improbable that Bulgaria will be able to offer any impediment to the development of the Nazi plans. Iler rulers, indeed, may have no wish to do so. The way is thus open to a sudden extension of Nazi aggression in and through the Balkans and there is every possibility that in the very near future Turkey as well as Greece may be called upon to withstand invasion.

Desiring to render to Greece all Hie help that is. practicable, Britain at the same time is bound to shape her plans and apply her resources to the total situation thus opened up, or in'all likelihood on the point of being opened up. The collapse of their direct attack on Britain must make Hitler and his fellow-gangsters more than ever inclined to seek' an alternative route to the achievement of their aims. As the military correspondent of the “Sydney Morning 1 [erald” wrote recently, if Hitler wishes to strengthen and maintain his economic structure, he must turn towards South-Eastern Europe and the lands beyond. His greatest, need is oil and, on account largely of the damage that British bombers have done to synthetic oil plants in Germany, supplies available to the Axis, including all that can be obtained from Rumania, fall far short of being adequate. But, the same correspondent adds:—■

Tbc oil of the Middle East, together with the primary produce and metals of the European continent, would enable Germany to break the British blockade. It is not the dead hand of any BerlinBagdad conception that is impelling Hitler to move to the Middle East, but the realistic dictates of military and economic strategy. Victory in the Middle East would also give him control of North and Central Africa and would thus enable him to convert the Mediterranean into a closed sea in the most literal sense of the term.... A belt of territory from Casablanca to Dakar across to the Red Sea would be an impregnable bastion to the new Nazi world. Thirdly, such an axial break-through to the Nile and Tigris would have most serious repercussions on the world of Islam, in so far as Britain is concerned. . . . Prestige means much in any Mohammedan community. Lastly, a successful Axis drive in North Africa or the Middle East would disrupt the essential unity of the British Commonwealth, because the loss of the Suez Canal would mean a dependence on Atlantic seaways which themselves would be open to increased attack.

The task now devolving upon the British Empire and its Allies is to defeat as a whole whatever attempts the Axis Powers may make to achieve those aims. It is quite obviously a matter of life and death for Britain and those who stand with her that this task should be carried to success. The stage is not. yet completely set for major conflict in the Mediterranean regions, but there is every reason to believe that it will be in the very near future.