Evening star., 1940-08-11

In the Suez area the italian objective
apparently is control of the northern
outlet of the Red Sea, which calls first
for military move against Egypt, neu-
trail, from Libya, italian North African
possession neighboring Egypt on the
west
"The invasion of British Somaliland
began August a." British communique
issued two days later in Cairo, the Egyp-
tian capital, said. "The enemy is op-
Grating In three COL
ltolions in umns, one moving on
SomoIiIond Oadweina (near the bor-
der of British Somali-
land and Ethiopia, which is the largest
section of Italian East Africa), one on
Hargeisa $50 miles west of Oadweina)
and one from Jire toward Gargara. Our
land forces are organized to resist these
advances in spite of the collapse Of
French Somaliland" Gas result Of the
French surrender).
The African assignment among the
axis powers is Italy's. Italy is the con-
queror of the country that once belonged
to the Conquering Lion OF Judah, the
Ethiopian Emperor, who now is an ally
of Britain on the African stage. On the
day the Somaliland- operation began,
Rome reported an advance of italian
troops into Egypt from Libya. officials
said the vanguard of Italian soldiers put
British forces to rout after crossing the
fr0y1tiar in thn Ciranoiro jy,
Northern Libya, above the sandy stretches
of desert waste which make up much of
this valued Italian colony. Informed
sources in London expressed belief that
Premier Mussolini of Italy has mobilized
an army of 100000 in Africa for major
drive against Egypt. The prize for Rome
is twofold: Choking England and ex-
panding the Roman empire.
The southern Italian advance was
swift. The British communique issued
in Cairo Wednesday, August 7, an
nounced that the Italians had entered
Zeila, small and unimportant Gulf of
Alden port near the western extremity of
British Somaliland. Furthermore. the
Italians captured Hargeisa by strong
force after 30-mile march through the
desert. And the invaders held Oadweina,
seized by force of 1000 men equipped
with guns and armored fighting vehicles.
The attack on Zeila was unopposed. The
British delaying force along the route to
Hargeisa fell back after inhicting what
Cairo termed severe casualties, including
three italian tanks put out of commits
sion. Outside Oadweina small motor
lied force of the British Somaliland
camel corps harassed the enemy without
suffering any loss themselves.
The British put up little resistance in
Somaliland because they are saving their
greatest African defense effort for the
expected northern attack across Egypt.
To control shipping
Britoin from the Gulf of Alden
Unconeerned shore is much more
difficult than to con-
troll it from the Suez Canal bank. Lord
Beaverbrook, the British Minister for
Aircraft Production, who is in the happy
position of newspaper publisher with
cabinet rank, warned the readers of his
London Daily Express that they may
expect "some Italian successes" in Africa.
Britain" Lord Beaverbrook said in
explaining this gloomy prediction, must
concentrate on Cd insuring the ultimate
collapse of Mussolinis African Empire
by cutting off supplies from Italy; and
CD preparing to resist invasion here"
Gin England herself.
The Egyptian action, Cairo reported
later in the week, is expected by the
middle of this month. The Italian