Evening star., 1940-11-21


trieve their defeat by the Greeks
They began their campaign with in
sufficient forces, apparently under
the impression that there would be
little, if any, Greek resistance. Now
they have been driven from the
mountainous frontier zone. but have
had time to bring up such addi-
tional reserves as they may have
had In Albania and to prepare strong
defensive positions. How soon they
can develop a powerful counter at
tack is uncertain. Their lines Of
communication with Italy appear to
be uncertain because of the activity
of the Greek and British fleets in
the Strait of Otranto, and because
of the Greek and British air attacks
on both Italian and Albanian ports
of embarkation and Decentralization
AS to the former, there is strong
hint in the apparent freedom Of
action of the allied navies that the
italian naval forces are pretty close
ly blockaded by the British and per-
haps to some extent disheartened by
their losses at Taranto. As to the
air attacks. with the establishment
of british air bases in Greece itself
and its adjacent islands. heavy
bombing of these ports was to be
expected and has been carried out
Wrecking of Ports Hinted.
Bari. Brindisi. Valona and Duraz-
20 especially have been repeatedly
bombed. and in the British reports
regarding the later two ports. it IS
possible TO gather more than hint
that they NAV be entirely wrecked
useless for the decentralization OF
troops with guns and heavy equip
ment. seriously impaired as bases
for the support Of military move
mentS in the interior If this IS So
italian reinforcements would have
to land at San Giovanni Dl Medus
in the north. near the YueoSlav bor-
der and move over more than 100
miles Of mountain road to reach
the present theater Of operations.
Since this advance would be con-
tinuouslv harassed b" hostile avia-
ton. the development Of powerful
counter blow against the Greeks
might we'll be DELAYED for some
time.
The Italian situation would, OF
course. be considerably eased if they
were able TO operate through Yugo-
slav territory. directly against Sa-
lonika by way of Vardar Valley. 1t
is doubtless fear of such a move
that has caused the Yugoslavs
partially TO mobilize their forces and
to concentrate troops in the south
ern part of their country. If the
Yugoslavs resist any such Italian
advance, they have good positions
and frst-rate troops and can Ger
tainly give as good an account of
themselves as the Greeks. if not
better Whatever the politicians
might decide at Belgrade there can
be little doubt that the army. with
the full support of the people would
f1ght any italian ATTEMPT to invade
Yugoslav territory. This is partlcu-
larlv assured since the successful
resistance of the Greeks. Military
honor is a powerful motive in YugO-
slavia and its martial people would
feel that they could do no less than
the Greeks have done.
Germany Also in Picture.
Their prospects of success against
the Italians alone would be bright
But unfortunately for Yugoslavia, it
is not the Italians alone whom they
must take into account.
The visit of King Boris of Bulgaria
to Adolf Hitler. followed by the
alignment of Hungary with the axis,
are twin events which by their ma
ture seem part of the regular axis