GREEK VICTORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1940, Page 2

GREEK VICTORIES

REPERCUSSIONS IN NEAR EAST MUSSOLINI AS FIGURE OF FUN OUTLOOK IN EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN BLOWS STRUCK BY ROYAL AIR FORCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 28. The Cairo correspondent of “The Times” says the Greek successes are having tremendous repercussions in the Near East. They have swung the weathercock in Syria to such an extent that the Vichy Government appointed the new High Commissioner, M. Chiappe, in an endeavour to stop the rot, while all Egyptian qualms about an Italian invasion are now dispelled. Instead of being something in the Egyptian popular imagination, Mussolini is now a mere figure of fun. The question is naturally being asked whether the Greek victories should not be followed up by fresh blows against the Italians in Libya, but it is not easy to give a positive answer, because a Libya campaign, fought across an almost waterless, desert 300 miles wide, creates special problems and invalidates various general principles applicable elsewhere. After Italy’s entry into the war, the British forces were at a disadvantage in maintaining advanced positions on the far edge of the desert. It is no secret that general headquarters were delighted when Marshal Graziani relieved them of part of the disadvantage by advancing to Sidi Barrani, where he now seems stuck. The British commander may be forgiven if he thinks twice before deciding again to accept the initial disadvantage by taking the offensive. The R.A.F. units sent from Egypt to Greece can be employed as advantageously there if no more so.

A R.A.F. communique issued in Cairo says: “We destroyed a motor transport at Garnulgrein by a low-level attack and dropped many incendiaries on the camp at Birsofafi and also on Sidi Barrani and Fort Maddalena. One of our planes was lost. * “Enemy fighters intercepted our bombers going out to raid Harat Island and one of ours was disabled and made a forced landing on Disse Island in the Gulf of Zula. The remaining planes carried out the raid. When returning the leader of the formation landed near the plane which made the forced landing and picked up the crew, who were unhurt, and flew them to the base. One enemy fighter was destroyed. “We bombed troop concentrations at Dangila and all the bombs fell in the target area, but it was difficult to estimate the damage because of the dense cloud of smoke and dust. “A formation of enemy fighters flew at a great height over Malta yesterday. Our fighters went up but only three of the raiders could be engaged. , One enemy and also one of our fighters were brought down in the sea. The Italian pilot was killed.”