Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-24

sembled to carry so large force into
Africa in one installment. The
numbers required may, therefore,
be overestimated; 10 divisions might
do all that can be done, or at least
feel out the situation.
Yugoslavia First Task.
In any case 100 divisions would
be available for the Balkan and
Near Eastern enterprise. The first
requisite would be the crushing OF
Yugoslavia. If Bulgaria comes in,
as is certainly possible. Yugoslavia
will be surrounded on every side
save for the small stretch of the
Greek frontier. To the 100 Ger
man divisions opposed to the Yugo-
slav maximum of 38, could be added
7 Hungarian and 9 Bulgar divisions
and a certain number of Rumanian
troops under German officers. There
is, of course, to be observed that the
roads and terrain of Yugoslavia do
not permit the deployment of so
huge a force, but the point is that
Yugoslavia can be invaded from the
north, northeast and east stimuli
taneously, while the Italians, if they
do no more, can develop pressure
against the northwest and south
west which will contain a certain
number of Yugoslav troops.
The Germans will have enough
spare divisions to develop a stimuli
taneous thrust through Bulgaria
against the northeastern frontier of
Greece. The best hope for the Yugo-
slavs-if they determine to fight
would seem to be to shorten their
lines by abandoning the whole OF
the open northern part of their
country, falling back to the noun
tains south and establishing. if they
can, close cooperation with the
Greeks. This might result in
Greek-Yugoslav stand in defense of
the old "entrenched camp of Sa-
lonica," with the line of defense
extending westward to the Adriatic.
The right flank might join the
Turks, or the Germans might break
through between the Greek right
and the Turkish left, developing
later separate campaign to drive
the Turks from the first line of de-
Tense on the Martha to push them
back to the Chatalja lines covering
Istanbul. In this case the Ger
mans might reach the Dardanelles.
1t must, however, be pointed out
that the total Turk-Yugoslav-
Greek force amounts to some so
divisions of all types and may rise
to 100 as mobilization is completed
in Turkey and Yugoslavia.
Successful Defense Possible.
With the direct support of Brit
ish air power, and with British
supplies coming in by sea, a sue
cessful defense of the extreme south
of the Balkan Peninsula, and of
the Bosporus- Dardanelles position.
is by no means unthinkable, even
against the German might.
If both the Turks and the Yugo-
slavs decide to fight, and fight as
stout-heartedly as have the Greeks,
the German way may not be path
of roses.
On the other hand. we must al
ways keep in mind that concentric
attacks from several points at once
may break up the Yugoslav Army
and impede its mobilization; that
the Turks may have to keep strong
forces on the Russian frontier, and
that the amount of British air
and material support to be ex-
pected is not unlimited and may be
sharply reduced by the start of the
long delayed Italian offensive
against Egypt. Or the Yugoslavs
or the Turks, or both, may decide
the odds are too great and not
fight at all.
At any rate, a survey of the posi-
bilities of the situation will sug-