Evening star., 1940-08-08
Eliot Cites
|Objectives in
|SomuIiIund
Rotes Suez ConoI
As Key Point in
Afrieon Cumpuiqn
BY MAJ. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT

BY MAJ. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.
In their attack on British Somali-
land, the Italians probably have
three objects:
ID To deprive the British Of o
base from which operations might
otherwise be carried on against
Italian East Africa.
ca To increase the extent Of
Italian holdings on the gulf Of
Alden, thus enabling Italian aircraft
to exercise greater control over
shipping passing through that gulf,
into or out of the Red Sea. This
will be important since there are
very few Italian warships available
and no more can get there while
the British hold the Suez Canal.
CD. To increase Italian prestige
among the African tribes and in
the middle east generally by gain
ing at comparatively little risk a
success of which much can be made.
The advances so far appear to be
by three separate columns, which
have reached, respectively, the sea-
port of Zeila, on the coast Just
inside the border between British
and dormer French Somaliland;
Hargesia, the chief caravan and
trade center of the interior of
British Somaliland, and Oadweina,
another desert center some 80 miles
east Of Hargesia, with which 1t Is
connected by motor road.
Difficult War Terrain.
The Terrain of British Soman-
land is difficult for military opera
tions, as the British discovered In their
81 years Of struggle with Moham.
med Bin Abbdullah, the so-called
Mad Mullah" who began fighting
them in 1899 and was not finally
suppressed until 1920, when aircraft
spelled his doom. At one time Q909-
10 the difficulties became so great
that the British government deter
mined to abandon the whole of the
interior and concentrate on holding
the coast towns only.
The chief terrain feature Of
British Somahland is the central
range of mountains. which follows
generally the contour of the coast
line but lies well inland, leaving q
considerable stretch Of plain bor-
dering the sea. These mountains
vary from 1000 to $500 feet in
height. There is some rainfall on
the mountain slopes, but most Of
the country is desert or semi-desert,
and large parts of it are covered
with thorny scrub.
The British garrison in normal
times consists of the so-called
Somaliland camel corps of the Kings
African rifles, which really consists
Of one camel company, one pony
company and one mechanized com.
pany with armored cars and ma.
chine guns. The total strength Is
something under 500 officers and
men, with a reserve of $50. The
officers are British, the men are one
quarter Yaos from Central Africa
and three-quarters Somanes. In
addition, there are the Somahland
police, native troopers with British
oficers, mounted on ponies or
cafnels and armed with rifles and
machine guns. These are subject
to military service.
Few Against Many.
Including the police, the total
normal force available for the de-
fense Of British Somaliland Is about
1900 men-a mere handful, as mod
ern war goes, or as against the many
thousands of trained, well-equipped
troops which the Italians have avail
able in East Africa.
1t Is, of course, likely that the
British have sent some reinforce
ments into the protectorate. They
have the advantage of knowing the
country thoroughly and the Italians
are under a certain handicap owing
to lack Of water. save as they bring
it with them. The Italian air force
seems likely to be stronger than
the British, but the British have
the advantage of their big air base
| at Alden, which cannot be reached
by italian troops, though 1t can. Of
course, be bombed. The Italians
are familiar with desert campaign
ing from their Ethiopian war: in
deed. they co-operated in the fight-
ing against the Mad Mullah, which
was In part carried on from italian
bases.
The chief town and seaport of
the country, and the point which
the three Italian columns appear
to be converging. is the city of
Berbera, on the gulf of Alden. This
Is the seat of government and the
headquarters of the Somaliland
police. The headquarters Of the
camel corps is at Burao, about IS
miles east of Oadweina.
Berbera is connected with zeila
by q 135 mile motor road along
the coast, which can be kept pretty
constantly under fire and observa-
ton by British warships. 1t is also
connected with both Hareeisa and
Burao by road, but both the latter
places are south of the noun
tains, through which the italians
will have to fight their way to
reach Berbera.
There are therefore, considerable
dhnculties ahead for the Italians
whichever way they elect to move
upon the capital. It should be
remembered, however. that their
great advantage is their superior air
force. Around the borders of the
British colony there are no less
than eight Italian air bases closely
linked with a system of other air
bases farther back in Italian terri
tory. In fighting in the close and
dificult country Of Somaliland, the
air arm will play major, If not q
decisive part. z
May Force Fleet Out.
1t is quite possible that in striving
to consolidate their position in
British Somaliland, the Italians
have in mind the possibility of using
THAR q ~ fnrea 70 1orlr ,,y> &J-~ 4.