STRATEGIC OBJECT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1942, Page 3

STRATEGIC OBJECT

CLEARING SOUTHERN SHORES OF MEDITERRANEAN LONDON PRESS COMMENT. STIFF TASK FACING EIGHTH ARMY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 25. “The Times” in an editorial says: “The task before the Eighth Army is very stiff. What is it? The aim must be to inflict a crushing defeat upon the enemy’s army and obtain possession of all the North African bases on which it depends or may depend. Upon this our aim is founded, the grand strategic object of clearing the southern shore of the Mediterranean for purposes which are concerned with the naval, military and .air forces and

their communications. “It may be accepted that we are not now witnessing only an attempt to improve the still perilous positions, in which the hostile army is lying all too close to the desert boundary. The play is for bigger stakes, and those responsible for planning the offensive have no doubt conceived it as extending to a succession of objectives.” The “Daily Express” says: “With the attack of the Eighth Army, the highlights of the news in the last few weeks begin to fall into their places in the general picture. We can see the links that run from the heavy enemy blitz on Malta to our concentrated attacks on Tobruk and other German supply ports, and also to the daylight air attack on Milan, the occupation of Liberia by the Americans, and the alarm spread from Nazi sources about Dakar. “One of the first aims of the new battle for Egypt must be to secure more air bases on the southern shore of the Mediterranean from which we can make the sea safe for our ships. The second aim must always be to put ever bigger obstacles between the Germans and the oil in the Middle East. “Ribbentrop has likened Britain .to an aircraft-carrier. From this carrier we are sending striking forces over great distances to the Italian cities, and this is really direct strategic aid in the battle for Egypt. It is very big scale war by land, sea and air. The communique are wisely cautious.” The “Daily Mail” says: “The relief with which the announcement of the attack has been received is the measure of the strain imposed on the people by the long months of military inactivity. This British offensive is on the greatest scale yet. Complete success now would mean clearing North Africa of the enemy and opening up the Mediterranean to our fleet. The forces which the Eighth Army is engaging .are stronger than ever, and it would be unfair to the officers and men not to recognise the magnitude of their task” _