Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1941. THE MEDITERRANEAN CAMPAIGN.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1941. THE MEDITERRANEAN CAMPAIGN.

JT is now only too obvious that the outlook in Crete is serious in itself and as it bears on the further development of the Mediterranean campaign. Magnificently as the British, Imperial and Greek troops commanded by General Freyberg are acquitting themselves, their position is described frankly as precarious. In spite of the valiant efforts in which the .Navy, at heavy cost, has blocked the passage of enemy sea convoys and the Royal Air Force has littered the beaches and landing grounds of Crete with the wreckage of enemy planes, it is reported that the Germans, besides ■launching endless waves of dive-bombers over the British land defences, continue to pour in reinforcements for the vital front in the vicinity of Canea. Today’s news shows that crack. British units have been landed as reinforcements, but that in lighting of ever-increasing intensity oui‘ troops have been forced Io withdraw to new positions east of Suda Bay. where the damaged cruiser York has been left in enemy hands. Short of some development at present unfo'reseen, the prospects of the forces, including New Zealanders, -which are withstanding attack so doggedly in Crete evidently cannot be called promising. In part, the tremendous odds against these forces are accounted for by tin 1 deficiencies of war material and equipment which Britain is still so far from having made good—a. relative shortage of planes and of the anti-aircraft defences which were needed in adequate volume to make it possible to hold and use aerodromes in Crete. These deficiencies are serious in their bearing both on the murderous struggle in Crete and upon the Mediterranean campaign in its full scope. 'While it is held by the Allied forces, Crete is a barrier to the execution of the Nazi designs on Asia Minor and Egypt, Should Crete be lost, the extension of the enemy offensive will lie facilitated very considerably. Whatever the outcome of the immediate struggle, however, it seems tolerably certain that in his assault on Crete the enemy is suffering losses of skilled and specialised personnel and of material of which he will feel the effects, perhaps acutely, as his aggression extends. Il is assumed generally that the Germans are hoping Io force their way into Syria and Iraq and there to develop a great enveloping movement against the British forces defending the Suez Canal against, attack from the north—an attack synchronising with the attack' on Egypt from Libya. Serious as the loss of Crete admittedly would lie, and much as it would be lamented for the sake of the heroic, defending forces, whose escape at. best would be extraordinarily difficult, it is not by any means to be taken for granted that, the outlook would thus be made hopeless from the British standpoint. AVitli Crete in their hands, the Germans presumably would next attack Cyprus and admittedly would be advantageously placed to extend their gir landings in Syria and to launch air attacks 011 Palestine, the Nile Delta and the British naval base of Alexandria. It has yet to appear that the Nazis are prepared to go to extremes in forcing a passage by land through Turkey and even if they did this with success, commuincalions througli Anatolia are I'tw from good. Apparently the Germans must continue to rely very largely on the use of air force and air transport. Tn any conditions that can be expected to arise, attempts to convey enemy troops and material to Syria by sea seem likely to be very hazardous. On the other hand, as information stands, the British forces defending Egypt against invasion from the west have been reinforced substantially and strong British fbrc.es have also been established in Palestine. Within the last few days the situation in Iraq is reported to have improved considerably, not least, in the introduction to that region of powerful and preponderant British air forces. The general outlook will be brightened considerably if Britain finds herself able to act upon the suggestions advanced in various quarters of late that she should occupy Syria. This step would.be in every way warranted by the pro-Nazi policy and actions of the administration headed by Genera] Bentz, and there does not seem to be any doubt that a. bold policy would pay, provided always adequate forces are available to support if. and carry it into effect. It is true that the Nazis can take as many warplanes to Syria .as the aerodromes will accommodate, but, it should be possible to cope with this invasion by air under very- much less serious handicaps than are now being faced in Crete. A very important factor and one that is said to be causing the Germans serious concern is that of fuel supply. Some Nazi air units have occupied the Mosul oilfields, in northern Iraq, but though they have thus reached the source of the oil, their problem is not solved, since it is refined oil and not the crude product that they need. The oil is conveyed in pipelines to Haifa, in Palestine, and Io Tripoli, on the Syrian coast, The only major refinery is at Haifa. A lesser one at Tripoli has been damaged and another French establishment of the kind at Beirut is said to be of insignificant capacity. . Against what is more advantageous in the enemy’s situation, there are apparently well-grounded reports tiiat he is handicapped seriously, both in Libya and in. Syria, by a shortage ol oil luel. A vital question a wail iiig determination is whether Britain lias the lorces available which would enable her to profit by the enemy s limitations, not least, in occupying Syria. Accomplished ami maintained, (his occupation would' not only extend the margin by which the Suez ('anal ami Nile Delta are protected against attack from the north, but would help vm-v’ considerably to safeguard Cyprus.