Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1943. NORTH AFRICA AND BEYOND.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1943. NORTH AFRICA AND BEYOND.

WHILE correspondents at the front are setting full emphasis on the formidable defences yet to be smashed by the Eighth Army after its initial breaching of the Axis line running inland from the coast of Tunisia at Enfidaville—defences established on miles of hill country—the struggle now in progress is spoken of as probably the Eighth Army’s last great battle in North Africa. That estimate of the position and outlook appears to be warranted on all grounds.

Impressive proof of the fighting power the Allies are bringing to bear upon the completion of them task in Africa appears not only in the fact that the veteran and hard-hitting Eighth ’ Army has the co-operation of the British First Army in the northern part of the battle area, and of strong American and French forces, but in the tempest of air attack that is being brought to bear upon the Germans and Italians in Tunisia and in the vital part the Royal Navy has played and is preparedto play as the conflict moves to its culmination.

It is of course clear that for the moment, and in spite of the shattering blows that have been and are being struck at their air and sea supply lines, the Axis armies are organised for a highly concentrated defence of their remaining foothold in Tunisia. That they will be able for long to withstand the onset of the total forces the Allies have deployed against them seems, however, altogether unlikely. Berlin reports alleging the defeat of the Eighth Army in the initial stages of its assault on the Enfidaville ine obviously must be classed as a strained example of wishful thinking.

There is every indication that the Allied offensive in North Africa has been planned and prepared on a scale which does justice not only to the task of clearing the whple African shore of the enemy, but to the greater achievements to which the way ■will largely be opened by rounded and complete victory in Africa.

The fact that the Axis Powers are making such costly sacrifices in support of what cannot be more than delaying action in the African .territory still in their hands bear witness to their perception of what the loss of that territory must mean in laying them open to still more damaging attack in Europe. The lines on which the Allies will follow up the culminating victory in Africa which is now in comparatively near prospect —subject, perhaps, to the defence of the fortress and base of Bizerta being lengthen out for a time when everything else has gone—remain, of course, to be disclosed.

It seems not unlikely, however, that before long the island of Sardinia may occupy for a time a particularly prominent place in the war news. A good deal has been heard about the necessity of an early invasion of Sicily, ‘with a view to establishing command over the Mediterranean Narrows, but Sardinia is of°at least equal strategic importance. Enemy aircraft based on Sardinia have taken an active part in attacking Allied shipping, but the island is capable also of being turned to account as a convenient and valuable base for attack on central and northern Italy from comparatively short range. The island can be protected effectively only by air and sea and its principal natural harbours are on its western coast —the side most distant from the Italian mainland.

If they intend to attempt to defend and hold Sardinia, the Axis Powers probably will have to send into action what is left of the Italian fleet* It was no doubt with that fact and others in mind that Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, in defining in February last the area of his new naval command in the Mediterranean, observed rather pointedly that the area included Sardinia.

While it has a most important bearing on the fate of Italy, the completion of the conquest of North Africa of course will open up also wide possibilities of alternative or supplementary attack on Southern Europe.