Evening star., 1940-12-26

nitions are be-Maj G. Fielding Eliot
ing assembled. The initial point OF
attack will be the British sea COM
munlcations, Britain's most vulner-
able point, and when the moment
arrives it is quite possible that the
whole German surface navy will be
loosed on the sea lanes, regardless
of loss, while air attacks against
ports and industrial centers are
stepped up to an intensity hitherto
not encountered in this war. Inva-
sion may follow, predicated on the
success of the earlier operations; il
may come first by parachute ano
air-borne infantry, with sea borne
forces as the final shock of decisive
force
Aware of this Britain, while as
sembling all possible forces to meet
the attack, has launched a terrific
counteroffensive in the Mediterra-
mean area, the occasion for which
was kindly presented by Mussolini
in his invasion of Greece. The
initial object of the counteroffensive
is to knock italy out of the war
with consequent beneficial results
| to the British situation in the At
lantic. but behind this is another
objective, which is to draw Germany
into extensive measures for the sup
port of her Italian ally.
In campaign in the Balkans
for example, Germany might find
herself so involved as to be unable
to bring her full weight to bear
against the island of Great Britain
The stakes in the Mediterranean are
now probably so high that Germany
cannot maintain hands-of policy
| her problem is therefore how to
offset the British successes over
Italy, and even perhaps complete
italian collapse, without compro-
missing her forthcoming attack or
Great Britain itself, for which she
hopes decisive results. The best way
seems to be an invasion of Spain.
Spain Filled With Agents.
To examine such an enterprise In
detail we may begin by observing
that the best reports now place the
German concentration on the
Franco-Spanish frontier near Hen
daye at from IL to Is divisions, all
motorized and including at least one
armored division. Spain itself is
honeycombed with German agents
and even with detachments OF
German troops, more or less thinly
disguised. 1t may Therefore be pre-
sumed that the invading army would
find its way well prepared for it as
far as possession of railway and road
functions, bridges and other key
points is concerned. This is i'm
portant, for the Spanish people are
desperate with hunger and they
know we'll that the appearance of
German troops in their country
automatically brings them within
the grip of the British blockade,
ending what British and American
relief is now reaching them.
A fighting race, and thus des-
perate. they might well rise against
the government which admitted the
invaders and against the invaders
themselves. The Spanish Army con-
sists of Is divisions, and has the ex-
perience of the civil war behind it;
it has good deal of high-class
armament and equipment. However,
in the present state of Spain, it is
highly uncertain whether any organ
lied resistance by the army could be
undertaken unless Britain were i'm
mediately ready to provide food,
munitions and air support-and it is
difficult to see how the British could
do this effectively, since the Germans
are right on the frontier and are so
well organized within the country.
Initially the Germans will have
three objectives: % The central
area of Spain, controlling communi-
cations and government-the gen.
eral area Madrid Toledo -Valla dolid-