Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1940. HAMMERING AT ITALY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1940. HAMMERING AT ITALY.

yyiTII the retiring- disposition of the Italian fleet once again V made manifest in the brief encounter, at extreme range, reported in a British Admiralty communique received yesterday, added point is given to the contention of the London “Times” that “it will pay us well to hammer Italy and the Italian forces with all the means in our power before the lessons learnt on the battlefields of Macedonia, Epirus, Taranto and the Thames Estuary are forgotten.” Britain, ol course, has enormous total burdens to carry in defending her own shores and her vital sea communications, maintaining her powerful air attacks on Germany and preparing for the land offensive in Western Europe to which her seapower and her aircraft eventually will open the way. In the events of the Greek campaign, however, and in achievements like that of the Fleet Air Arm at. Taranto and those of the R.A.F. in Italy and Albania, there is much to' encourage a policy of continued and vigorous attack. That policy may be all the more warranted if, as is now suggested, Germany is unlikely to attempt any large-scale offensive action in the Balkans before the northern spring. Italy is in a number of ways extremely vulnerable. Apart from the important facts that the hearts of a great proportion of her people admittedly are not in the war and that she is economically weak, she is, I as has been demonstrated, open to most damaging attack in her home territory. Her East African colonies and Abyssinia are isolated save by long-distance air communication, and her communications even with Libya are at least dangerously exposed. It has to be. considered also that although Italy is the lesser and the weaker part of the combination against which Britain and her Allies are fighting, the overthrow even of that part might do much to bring decisive victory nearer. Coinmenting recently on the possible effects of British offensive action elsewhere than against Germany herself, an oversea writer observed: — \ As the stranglehold on Central Europe grows stronger and stronger and the dreams of domination recede and fear grows with privation, and the output of the bombed German factories steadily diminishes, will the Nazi armies be the same formidable foes that they have been? Distrust and dissension played their dreadful part in the first phase of the war. Will they not play their part also in the last phase, when truth, courage and skill are pitted against exploded falsehood and fears that with every defeat displace the old arrogant confidence? The heart of France failed. So may Germany’s. \ Much as Britain’s efforts rightly are and will be coneentrated directly against Germany, it is not in doubt that the turn of events in the Mediterranean will, profoundly influence the total course of the war. Italy’s powers of endurance evidently are limited and the effect on Germany, both morally and materially, of an Italian collapse would be profound and far-reaching.

COMFORTS FOR SOLDIERS JN dealing with some of the secondary hut far from unimportant details that make for the comfort and happiness of soldiers overseas, the Government and the voluntary agencies it has called to its assistance have acquitted themselves creditably. Reasonable enterprise has been shown in providing huts and tents as rest and recreation centres and both in Egypt and in the United Kingdom well-directed action has been taken in organising weekend and other tours. What has been done in these ways and others for the welfare of soldiers in their periods of leisure is highly commendable. Mail services, also, have been improved and cheapened. The recent lowering of the air mail postage rate no doubt is vert much appreciated, and parcels seem to be reaching soldier recipients in excellent condition and with reasonable expedition. Among details which still need attention and in regard to which the position as yet is far from satisfactory is that of the supply of tobacco to the troops in Egypt. The official advice still stands, in the booklet issued by the National Patriotic Fund Board: “Don’t forward cigarettes and tobacco . . . to troops in Egypt.” It has been explained that heavy duties are charged in Egypt on tobacco addressed to members of the Empire forces there. The actual practice of the Egyptian Customs in this matter has been erratic. A number of soldiers have reported receiving small quantities of tobacco without being called upon to pay duty, but one soldier, in an air maiß letter just received, states that he had to pay eleven piastres (about 2s 3d) duty on a two-ounce tin of cigarette tobacco. This levy amounted to more than the price of the tobacco in New Zealand and a large part of that price represented duty paid in this country. It is possible that the rate of duty mentioned is now to be the standard. If it is, the matter should be taken up with the Egyptian Government. It is definitely a hardship and imposition on our soldiers that they should be penalised so heavily if they wish to smoke the kind of tobacco to which they are accustomed. Whatever a few cranks may have to say on the subject, tobacco is one of the most valuable and appreciated comforts that'can be supplied to men engaged in war service, or indeed in most other kinds of service, and it is intolerable that our soldiers should be fleeced so outrageously if they wish to solace themselves with cigarette or pipe in hours of rest and leisure. Our soldiers are in Egypt, not only to safeguard and defend Empire communications, but to protect Egypt from invasion. A very modest concession would be entailed, in allowing tobacco for their use to enter Egypt duty free. It is difficult to believe that the concession would have been refused had the matter been taken up with the Egyptian Government. It seems much more likely that Egypt has not even been asked to make this small concession. Some time ago it was reported that the National Patriotic Fund Board was proposing to arrange for the sale at military canteens in Egypt, ami at New Zealand prices, of popular brand's of cigarettes and tobacco. If this has been done, the fact does not seem to have been made known. It is very desirable that canteen supplies in these conditions should be arranged, bid in addition the question of having tobacco for our soldiers admitted duty free to Egypt should be taken up seriously with the Government of that country. If the New Zealand authorities concerned think the matter is nnworthv of their attention they are undoubtedly wrong and it may be hoped that the fact will lie brought home to them. Anyone who receives letters from soldiers in Egypt knows that an assured supply of tobacco and cigarettes, sent by relatives and friends or sold at moderate prices, would be most acceptable.