Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-07-19
British Navy
ShowsPower
Unless Italy Makes
Unexpected Showing,
She Faces Effective
Blockade.
BY CHARLES p. STEWART
Central Press COlumniSt

Washington, July 19-UnIcSS the
British, navy and all are Knocked
out very speedily Italy is about due,
unlookcrS from tho vantage point of
our own naval headquarters in WASH
ington are predicting, for bigger
mnuthrul of war than maybe Signor
MuSSOini realized that his country
would be called on TO maSticatC when
he propelled it into the European
conflict.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
virtually promised as much, its ar
gucd, in the course of his speech in
| forming parliament in London Of the
clash between John Bulls and the
French fleets off the Algerian coast
recently.
Following his remark that nearby
italian fighting vessels ''prudcntly
kept out of the way" during this en-
gagcment, it will be recalled that he
added, I'VE trust their turn will come
during the operations VIC shall pur-
sue to secure crrcctual control of the
| Mediterranean
StratcgSts generally concur that
the British navy can control the Med
! itcrrancan. Maybe il couldn't have
done so if the Axis powers had gained
/ possession Of the French fleet, to add
/ to Italy'S. but. we know, they didn't.
Germany hasn't the sea strength
(cant spare il from elsewhere, any
Way) to bc materially helpful to the
/ Italians i'm their own waters. And
/ competent authorities agree that the
| FasCiStS alone lack the war craft to
/ oppose those that England can con-
centratc against them.
Experts speak of MuSsolini'S air
! force as pretty efficient but they
more than doubt that it's equal To
Orfsctting Britain'S superiority aflOat.
Mostly Coast Line.
This will mean, if our American
navy folk reason correctly, that
ItaIv's coast line will be tightly bot
tied Upland it's mostly coast line.
Ana if It's navy'S OutClaSSCd. it's
hard to see why the British ships,
: assuming their superiority, shouldn't
destroy il: it can't get away, out of
the Mediterranean. That's what Win
ston Churchill appeared TO be hint
ing at.
There also arc important Italian
ports that British mcn-O'-War could
fire their big guns into.
incidentally. it's blockade which
would cut the home land off from
its trans Mediterranean and trans
Adratic possessions.
It's true that Italy isn't entirely
Watcr-bOund. 1t can get overland 10
the northWard. However. it's an in
| convenient route for most of the
peninsula. Furthermore. its transport
tation facilities arc insufficient for
any great volume Of traffic.
or course. all this leaves aViatiOn's
possibilities out of consideration. II
italian flyers can beat all the war
ships Britain can pack into the Med
iterrancan. MusSoIini has no occasion
to worry. But our navy folk don't be-
licvC they can do II.
To be sure, corking up Italy, il
John Bull can do it, won't take Ger
many Off from the lattcr'S hands
Nevertheless. Herr Hitler probably
wouldn't enjoy having his Axis part
ner 50 badly embarrassed. The ltal-
ians haven't been much active help
to him. indeed, but they've been quite
a nuisance to the British, and were
to the French until they capitulatcd
Saving the Empire.
Not only army and navy observers
but diplomats likewise read into
Prime Minister Churchill's declara-
ton of Britan's determination to
hang onto Mediterranean control an
expression of John Bulls fixed re-
solve to hold his empire together.
That short cut TO the eastward (to
India, Australia. New Zealand, ct
cetera) naturally is absolutely es-
sential to the preservation of the Bri-
fish family's integrity. Even if his