The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-29
WAR INTERPRETIVE
tcontinued from Page One)

Continued from rage one'
from Albania. The Island OF Cor
fl off the Greek coast at the
Creek Albanian border, is virgil
a1lv at the Strait of Otranto, en-
trance from the Mediterranean TO
the Adiatric. A sea fight there
world mean that Britiah naval
units are stabbing to cut or con-
fuse Italy's communications with
her Albanian bridgehead across
the Adriatic.
Favorable Elements
Even if the reported action at
Corfu goes unconfirmed, however,
there are elements in the situa-
ton possibly more favorable to
Greece than the overwhelming
odds now against her would in
dictate. It remains to be S e e
whether Axis strategy has o t
drawn Turkey also into the strug-
gle as a British ally; and what
Russia will do.
Russia's role is the vital miss
ing piece in the war picture puz-
zle. That Greece elected to risk
all without some positive knowl-
edge, not only as to Britain's abil-
Iity to aid her, but also as to Tur-
keys intentions and what Russia
would do, seems improbable. Her
cwn puny strength, unaided would
be brushed aside by massive Ital-
ian forces. =.
It is also unthinkable that the
Hitler Mussolini team would risk
attacking Greece without careful
ly weighing the probable role OF
Turkey and Russia. The Fascist
attack on Greece hints that they
may have set the stage carefully
in Rumania to induce Russian qui.
essence so long as they do not at
tack Turkey, Russia's fl d y
neighbor.
Axis Strategy
Growing of the Russian Bear
ever German military occupation
of Rumania and the approach to
the Black sea was clearly audible.
The Italo-Greek conflict suggests
that Axis strategy now is aimed
at pushing the a against Britain
in the Eastern Mediterranean from
%closer-up Greek bases and without
attempting a land attack across
the Dardanelles and through Tur.
key. The object might be to ap.
pease Russia. -.
The Italian spearhead from Al.
bania seems aimed first at Saloni.
ka on the Aegean cost of Greece.
1t is osme hundred miles closer
air flight from there to Alexan-
dria and the Suez Canal than from
any base in Italy. 81.
Logical Answer
The logical British answer to the
new Axis move is occupation oil
the Greek Island of Crete and Ath.
ems reports that has already been
achieved. Crete is less than 4OO
miles from the British base at Alex
andria, Egypt. 1t also would at.
ford the British a sea and air pow.
er springboard for attack on Italy
at relatively close range.
North of Crete is Mora, or Pelo.
ponnesus, the southern lobe of Of
Greece Proper, it is cut off by the
wide waters of the Gulf of Coriuth
from northern Greece except fol
a slender and canal-cut isthmus
1t is easily defensible even if the
rest of Greece is overrun a n {
would afford the British bases fo1
closeup flank attack on Axi.
thrusts toward Egypt by air OF
sea.
With or without Turkish aid. thu
British-Greek allies backed by tn,
British sea power interpose a pow
erful veto on whatever plans tn.
Axis allies are maturing to pres
the war against Britain in Egypt
If Turkey joins in at the approx
ing nod of Moscow, that powde:
barrel set off by Italian invasion
of Greece would blow up the Axi.
instead of Britain. 2