Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1940. ANOTHER BLOW AT THE AXIS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1940. ANOTHER BLOW AT THE AXIS.

♦ J-JOW far it is intended meantime to carry the British offensive launched on Saturday against the numerically powerful and well-equipped. Italian army which lias been virtually at a standstill for the past three months in the Egyptian Western Desert has yet to appear. Important and far-reaching possibilities evidently are opened up, however, by the successful initial operations of which news arrived yesterday—operations in -which New Zealand troops are likely to be playing their part. Whatever their numerical strength in relation to that of the enemy may be, available information goes to show that the British forces in Egypt are. powerful, well-equipped and supplied. The situation is not yet defined in all its details, but it is possible that Italy has laid herself open to as deadly a counterstroke in Egypt and Libya as that of which she is now feeling the effects in Albania. There is much to suggest that the advance of the army commanded by Marshal Graziani from Libya into Egypt was part of a plan which as a whole has miscarried badly, not only in the disastrous collapse of the invasion of Greece, but in the decisive defeat of the Gierman air blitzkrieg against Britain and therefore of the intended invasion of that country. One of a number of interesting questions raised concerns the extent to which the Italian armies in and based on Libya are isolated from support and supply. Libya, it is true, is not isolated as completely as the Italian territories of Abyssinia, Eritrea and Somaliland. There have been suggestions of late, for example, that strong German air forces may be sent to Libya. This, no doubt, is feasible, but as a British commentator has pointed out, it is not easy to see how the fuel and other requirements of these forces, much the greater part of which necessarily would have to be conveyed by sea, could be satisfied. British naval and air forces certainly could be relied upon to deal effectively with ships engaged in supply service between Italy and Libya. . At a minimum it seems likely that Germany’s power to effect an eastern diversion by strengthening the Italians in Libya will now be put speedily to the test. If the initiative has passed to the British forces in the extent suggested by the events now taking shape in the Western Desert, prospects will be opened, not only of another most damaging blow to Italy, but of developments of great promise as they bear on the total situation in the Near and Middle East, and elsewhere in 'the Mediterranean. If the Italian forces in Libya can be put out of action, Britain and her allies will be strengthened not a little in coping with any offensive Germany may attempt in or through the Balkans. Events in Egypt and Libya are likely to exercise a profound influence also upon those French colonies which meantime are holding aloof from the struggle for liberty. The latest news in hand at time of writing shows that the British Imperial forces, with whom Free French troops are associated, have thrust their way to the Mediterranean coast west of Sidi Barrani, which the Italians had organised elaborately as an advance base and jumping-off point for an invasion of Egypt. A smashing blow has thus already been struck and there is every prospect of its being followed up. With the Navy and the Royal Air Force cooperating closely with our land forces, the outlook evidently may be regarded as highly promising.