Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1941. AIR POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1941. AIR POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

reports stand, Ihe British and Allied forces are making good headway in their drive into Syria and it eases the position very considerably that a large number oi French officers and men, hitherto in the service ol Vichy, have already come over Io the Allies and that others have ceased to fight. All that is happening meantime, however, must be regarded as ol’ a preliminary character. Germany is bound to do everything in her power to build, in Syria and elsewhere, upon the measure of success she has won in the Balkan .1 eninsula and in Crete. It is no doubt true, as one report declares, that the Nazis are impelled by shortage of oil. as' well as on other grounds, ‘‘to make a supreme ellort to grab the rich oilfields of Irak and Iran.”

It is by this time fairly obvious that air power is likely to be a decisive factor in the struggle thus brought into prospect. In Greece, and to a still greater extent in Crete, Germany brought into play an overwhelming superiority of air force, and on the whole,'though at great cost, used it with remarkable efficiency and effect. Against the weight and power ol attack thus developed, land forces Jacking adequate air support were, handicapped hopelessly and their heroic efforts were made finally of no avail. Addressing New Zealand troops in a desert camp, the Prime .Minister, Mr Fraser, is reported to have promised that everything would be done to see that the fighting troops had adequate air support next time. The course and outcome of the operations in Syria and elsewhere in the .Middle East evidently will be influenced profoundly by the degree in which effect is given to this promise.

Extending their hold on Syria, the Allied forces should gain possession of an ample range of aerodromes, but it is of course, essential that these should be defended strongly and turned fully to account. In their occupation of Aegean islands, including Crete, and the Dodecanese islands, the Gernlans are possessed of advantageous facilities for air approach to Syria and oilier territories, hut with sufficiently powerful air forces at their disposal the Allies should lie able to make their position on the mainland of Asia Minor and in Cyprus secure and to dispose of the danger of an enemy drive on Palestine and the Suez Canal from the north.

Where the all-important factor of air power is concerned, as in other respects, early nows of the advance into Syria is encouraging. Aircraft are not only attacking, at extended range, the Syrian aerodromes which the men of Vichy have, placed at the disposal of the Nazis, but are accompanying the British, Imperial and Free French forces in their advance. It is to be noted, too, that some of these machines are Tomahawk fighters from the United States. At the same time, German parachutists thus far landed in Syria and Lebanon are reported to have been mopped up quickly.

Tn order that this satisfactory state of affairs may continue and be built upon, a great and powerful effort by Britain and her allies no doubt is demanded. Adequate air support in a campaign like that now developing is likely to involve meeting very heavy calls indeed. Nothing would be gained by attempting to minimise the probably formidable scale and character of the enemy air attack. It. appears to be agreed by military technicians Unit in their recent operations, and more especially in Crete, the Germans have opened up a new and highly effective use of air resources, not least where the transport of troops and material, in machines capable of being produced economically in large numbers is concerned. It has been emphasised, too, that by the use of wireless and in other -ways, the Germans have developed with considerable efficiency methods of maintaining the organisation and cohesion of troops landed by air.

It may be hoped that the enemy will enjoy in Syria no such advantages as he enjoyed in Crete, where the only aircraft that could be brought to the support of the British and Greek forces were operating from bases about'4oo miles away. If the right contrast, with Crete is to be established, however, numerous and powerful air forces ivill have to be operating constantly in co-operation with the Allied land forces. The essential problem thus confronting Britain and her allies may be one of transport rather than of production and supply at the source. The position has yet to.be put to a crucial test, but with the fact that Britain herself' is engaged, with the support of her Dominions, in a mighty effort to build up her forces of all kinds in the Middle East to whatever strength may be needed, it counts for a great deal that the United States lias undertaken to deliver war materials, of which aircraft will be not the least, important item, by way of the Bed Sea.