The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-09-17
An Expert
|Appraises
The War

s@-sssss a-1sIlk
tanned BY the continuous German
air attacks against Great Britain.
nor il the outlook favorable for
any spectacular turn OF events IN
Germany's favor. Italian military
commentators now expect Ger
many 10 delay decisive" opera
tons until next spring. and they
frankly admit the lack Of impor-
tart German progress against
British resisting power.
The realistic attitude Of Italian
newspapers is in keeping with the
natural caution that forms the
basis of the Italian school Of STRAIT
egg. It Is possible to interpret the
bold Roman comments as an init
nation to Germany not To expend
too much air strength against OBJ
jectives that have no major mill
tary value, such as the bombing
of London.
The time has come for the
totalitarian leaders TO look 20
their strength for next springs
operations. BY that time Brit
ish airplane production plus
the additions from America
should be superior TO the Ger
man output.
Facing this future condition It
Is apparent that Germany's heavy
losses during the present attacks
against Great Britain cannot con-
tinue indefinitely with safety. The
Italians appear to understand this
fact, for they have not the i'm
petuosity which rage excites in
the Germans and they do not
underrate British competence and
tenacity.
Having no such intensified feel
ing of thwarted ambition which
d o m mates German animosity
against Britain, the Italians are
able to obtain a better perspec-
tive. Their advice to Germany
would certainly be against taking
reckless chances in the war.
An example of uncertain
ties which the Italians seem to
feel Is the long threatened in
vasion of Great Britain. 1t
had been persistently report
ed that the invasion was to
begin during this past week.
end. II 1t had started In ac-
cordance with such predie-
tons, because of the full
moon, the channel weather
alone would have worked
havoc with the German trans
port barges and small craft.
A semi-gale suddenly appeared
in the channel Sunday which
would have caught the Germans
as troops and supplies were
crossing. Later in the day the
wind moderated but blew from
the British coast, which in itself
would have hampered landing
operations through the surf. LASH
ed by the preceding heavy
weather. Such unpredictable con-
ditions emphasize the value of
Italy's restraining influence.
Italian caution and realism must
be expected to show themselves
in North African operations. The
movement of Italian troops across
the Libyan frontier toward the
sandy spaces of the western Egyp-
tan desert has not yet taken the
form of major offensive.
Hitherto the British have
occupied the frontier stretch
whence they have been maxi
ing light raids into Italian
territory. Marshal Graziani
now seeks to terminate this
condition, and he has moved
considerable force several
miles over the frontier, APP
parently with that immediate
purpose.
II the Italians were to start a
hasty march along the Mediter-
ranean coastal road. which is the
direct way toward Alexandria and
Suez, they would expose them
selves to severe Smelling from
British warships. Marshal Graz
iani Is an efficient tactician who
Is wary Of desert traps.
If, indeed, he now has in mind
a major attack across 500 miles
Of desert. slow movement would
seem the most advantageous. But
it is uncertain as yet what his
basic purpose may be. AT present
he is probably testing out the
british defense before deterrnininc