Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-10
The Mediterranean

"Tell them in Lacedaemon, passerby,
We kept the Spartan code, and here
We lie"
In these words put into their mouths
by SimonideS, the Greek poet paid
tribute to those who gave their lives on
tee altar of Greek freedom more than
1000 years ago at Thermopylae. Though
facing apparently hopeless odds, the
Greek people, like their forbears at
Thermopylae are again enlisted in a
battle for freedom. For the fate of Brit
ain is tied to the ability of the Greek
Army to hold the FasciSts in check a
few weeks longer. If Britain energies
q final victor over the axis, her victory
will strike the ShaCKleS from the en-
shaved nations of the continent. The
outcome in Greece may determine there
fore the future of Europe.
At several sectors on the border front,
Athens reported important gains A
Greek counter-offensive
Greek into Albania threatened
Offensive to cut on the Italian
forces near Koritza. Neu-
trail military experts declare that the
Greek positions are as good, if not better
than they were on the first day of the
invasion. Along the Ionian coast, the
Greeks admitted a slight retreat"
Though conceding that the Italian ad-
vance is slow, Rome claimed substantial
progress in the drive to crack the main
Greek lines of defense.
AS the new British military mission
conferred with the Greek general staff
on a co-ordinated plan for the defense
of Greece, Prime Minister Churchill re-
vealed that air and naval bases had
been established in Crete, large island
strategically located between the Greek
mainland and Asia Minor. To archeoio-
gists, Crete has long been a rich treasure
field. From approximately 2200 to 1400
BIC. Crete was the leading power in the
Aegean Sea. At Knossos and Phaistus,
and elsewhere, Psychologists have ex-
humed finely constructed palaces and
other evidences of brilliant civilization.
Legends of the labyrinth and minotaur,
which had their origin in ancient Crste,
are known to thousands of schoolboys of
our day. Homer, in the Odyssey" makes
mention of several Cretan cities, and his
torians have found many striking
parallels between the constitutions of
Crete and Sparta. The laws and insti-
tutions of both countries aimed at Great
ing class of warriors.
With its occupation by British forces
ancient Crete has become focal point
in the battle of Britain.
British Through bases in the is
In Crete land, bombers of the Royal
Air Force are within easy
striking distance of industrial centers in
Italy, and the oil fields of Rumania, now
under axis control. If she can hold
Crete, Britain will also be better able
to harass, and perhaps cut off II Duce'S
supply lines with his armies in North
Africa, and these armies are constant
threat to the Suez Canal. Crete boasts
a magnificent natural harbor at Suda,
more than square miles in area, large
enough to provide an anchorage for the
entire Mediterranean feet. In Crete,
therefore, Britain has won major mill
tary asset, and has greatly strengthened
her position in the Mediterranean.
An early German drive to the Suez
Canal by way of the DardanelleS was
seen by foreign observers in Switzerland
last week as a strong possibility follow
ing conference in Germany between
Count Galeazzo Ciano, Italian Foreign
Minister; Franz Won Papen, Nazi Am
bassador to Turkey, and Joachim Won
Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister.
The Nazis have massed large army in
Rumania, country which the Nazi
police chief, Heinrich Himmler. is re-
ported to have visited recently. The
Italian invasion of Greece, with Salonika
and the Greek isles as detectives, was
said by neutral observers In Switzerland
to constitute but one phase of q four
point axis offensive
other points included: First an Ital-
ian drive toward Alexandria and Suez
from the advance base at Sidi Barrani-
so miles inside the border between Eevnt
and Libya. Second q German thrust
through Bulgaria to aid Italy by striking
at the Greek defenses in Macedonia
Third, Nazi drive directly to the
Dardanelles, opening the gate to neutral
Turkey, Syria, Palestine and the Suez