Evening star., 1940-06-30
Italy, on Defensive,
Delays Order for
Sub Campaign
Attack on Egypt Difficult
Until British Fleets
Strength Is Reduced
BY JOHN r. WHITAKER,


Italian troops along the French
frontier, who were inspected yester-
day by II Duce, stayed on the de-
fensive except for a brief four days
of fighting. Afterwards it was ex-
planned that this, like the delayed
entry of Italy, was done purposely
because in that way the interests of
the axis were best served.
For three weeks of war Italy has
remained on the defensive in the
Mediterranean. and North Africa.
Is Italy deliberately declining to
seek out the British feet or to
launch an attack into Egypt from
Libya because Hitler wants no more
than this from his ally? Or is Italy
merely bidding its time?
Observers are surprised that Italy
has not used its superiority of sub
marines to overcome British pre-
ponderance in capital ships. At the
commencement of hostilities Italy
boasted 100 submarines and even if
the British have sunk six, as
claimed, Italy should be able to send
them out in wave after wave to seek
out and destroy dreadnaughts and
battle cruisers. Many submarines
would be sunk, but only in this way
could the British fleet be reduced
to the lower gunpower OF Ttaly's
fast but light cruisers. For Italy
has only four capital ships and,
since its navy is postwar creation,
its ratings have neither the tradi-
ton nor the training that comes
from fighting alone.
Invasion of Egypt Difficult.
Since the Italian Fleet must go
into any pitched battle as an un-
known quantity no cost in subma-
rines would seem too high if it
has eliminated British superiority
in tonnage and gunpower.
Similarly, observers have looked
for some bold naval acton by the
Fascists because the invasion of
Egypt depends in la;ge part upon
Italy's having crippled British sea-
power. The Libyan desert, which
lies between the Italians and Alex
andria and Cairo, is not only tor
mented by hot winds and sand
storms, but is also a waterless tract.
To cross it any army needs naval
support, ships to carry water for
the land troops and to lend them
the power of their guns and the
ubiquity of their carrier-born air
craft.
In addition to this formidable
natural barrier supported by the
British Fleet, Italy encounters in
attacking Egypt a highly mechan-
lied British Army. Italian war cor
respondents report from Libya the
heroism and ingenuity of the Italian
outposts in trying to meet British
tarks and armored cars, which ap-
pear to be supported by aircraft and
infantry and pop up along the whole
of the front.
While observers wonder whether
the Italians will attempt daring at
tacks of submarines, supported by
mosquito or topedo-bearing motor
boats and destroyers, they also see
the likelihood of italy's remaining
entirely on the defensive, especially
since 1t must conserve munitions,
equipment and raw materials If, as
now appears, this war against Brit
ain begins to drag from weeks into
months.
Bombs May Decide Issue.
The decision lies in Germany's
ability to efface the major cities
of Britain with bombs. The press
propaganda has already started to
regard all British civilians as sharp
shooters, which means indiscrim-
mate bombing by the axis in an
endeavor quickly to knock England
out. Thus, Italy's job might merely
be to keep as much of the British
fleet, aircraft and troops in the
Near East as possible and then to
launch what appears to be major
offensives in England's moment Of
crisis when London may call for
ships and planes.
The Italians are much encouraged
by the announcement that Syria
will obey Premier Marshal Henri
Philippe Petain's orders. 1t is re-
ported that Gen. Eugene Mittel-
hauser, in command of Frances
Near East forces, decided to support
Marshal Petain's decision after his
officers expressed the wish to con-
tinue the fight, but the enlisted
men declined. This reflects the mil
itary rule which has operated since
Sherman's march through the South.
When the Confederate soldiers heard
that the enemy were in their own
land they deserted by the hundreds
and thousands, returning to their
womenfolk.
Spread BY Nazi Agents.
The knowledge of this kind of
fatality has been made a science by
Nazi agents and it would not be
surprising to learn that this move
ment among French troops was
spread by well-disguised German
agents who described the dangers
which lie ahead for France and
French women in period of Ger
man occupation-dangers all the
worse if French resistance continued,
they probably argued.
When this correspondent was In
Paris four months ago, the censors
refused to pass a story which he
confirmed in scores of quarters.
German agents in the period before
the Lowland offensive were flooding
the French lines with anonymous
letters to soldiers, saying that their
wives were untrue to them. This
form of defeatist propaganda was
done so well that the agents, who
had the cooperation of Communist
cells, would name man known to
the soldier as not mobilized as the
,,,o, IL coa,n v,,if1, l,ie VITA