The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1940 EVACUATION OF SOMALILAND

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21197, 21 August 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1940 EVACUATION OF SOMALILAND

In the light of information received from British Somaliland in the past few days, news of the complete evacuation of the territory will not cause much surprise in the British Empire. It was known since the collapse of France that the British were outnumbered and that they were falling back on Berbera. Then Mr Churchill announced that he had bad news from Somaliland. Apparently the evacuation was efFected without loss of life and with very little sacrifice of military equipment. With British warships anchored at Berbera it is probable that the Italians did not press the retreat too closely at the end. The news cannot be received joyfully, but there will at least be relief that the evacuation was made sufficiently early to avoid disaster once the decision had been made.

Whether Italy has gained anything but kudos from the campaign is open to question. The Somaliland territory itself is of little value, but it completes the Italian occupation of the long coastline from Eritrea to the eastern extremity of the African continent and southward through Italian Somaliland to Kenya. This may facilitate the attack on Kenya and other African territories. The gains might have been of tremendous value had Italy command of the sea ports; without sea transport the thousands of miles of more or less desert coastal country can do little to strengthen the Italian position. Lack of transport is a great handicap. It is true that the Italians moved across British Somaliland with great spetd, but the opposition, excepting at one point, was only sufficient to lure them on.

It is probable that Britain could have held Somaliland had it wished, but only by bringing in heavy reinforcements, and that would not have been wise. There are certain other vital points which must be held at all costs, including the Suez Canal, and it would be foolish to dissipate the strength of the British forces by attempting to hold territory of little strategic or other value. Italy must now continue the armed occupation of Somaliland, and thus spread her strength; otherwise, with command of the sea, Britain could land forces on the coast at any time and regain possession if such a course were thought wise or necessary.

Now for Italy’s next move. Will Mussolini decide to attack Egypt, the Sudan or Kenya, or will he pause ? His decision may depend upon the number of troops he has available in East Africa. In such a huge territory the point must be reached where even a very large army might become dangerously dispersed. Communications in Africa become a matter not of hundreds but of thousands of miles, and the overland routes are pitiless. Perhaps Mussolini will take his courage in both hands and decide the time has come for the realisation of his ambition to control the Suez Canal by attacking through Egypt from Libya. In that region he will not encounter a retreating enemy but one determined to hold on. For that task Mussolini may net yet be able to concentrate a sufficient force to have any hope of