The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-08

THE WAR NEWS
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON

Frances hopes that the Weygand web, woven
lish channel to the Oise-Aisne plateau, will save
her find much encouragement in two factors:
G) BerliE battle communicates, after three
days of smashing attack, remained strangely
terse and uncommunicative. They claimed
sweeping general advances ION schedule but
gave no details.
() Backing up that intimation that German
thrusts thus far have produced only punctures,
not blow-outs, in the Weygand web, was Paris
claim that the French are still standing fast
along the Peronne Bulge of the Somme front.
A German break-through of serious proportions
either on the channel flank to the west, Or east
ward of the Disc valley on the Aisne-Ailette
sector, could compel prompt evacuation of the
Peronne Bulge.
Situation Critical
Nevertheless, the situation remains critical
for the French on both menaced flanks. That
is reflected in Generaiissimo Weygand's battle
order to his troops to fight looking forward
only. Nor can France avoid turning her eyes
from that boiling 200-mile cauldron north and
west of Paris to glance apprehensively over
her right shoulder to where Italy stands poised
for a plunge into the war.
The first shock Of battle may come on that
Mediterranean front at any moment. But it
- I'm WAL, II NcA Z bSl ILL., JuSI WLlcl
and how Italy will strike-if she does. There
are circumstances about Italian hesitancy over
taking the final plunge which imply that II
Duce has plans wholly his own, unshared with
his German axis mate, for exploiting the plight
of France and Britain.
A Berlin report that Rome is awaiting final
assurance that Frances airforce has been re-
moved by German action does not cast Mussolini
in a flattering role in German eyes. Nor can
If he SprjOJJS1v So11hto1 tbot Jto1v'c first ron sid
GRAFTON as a belligerent, wherever and however
she strikes, must be the Anglo-French naval
preponderance in the Mediterranean.
Air Aid Limited :
That suggests that any air aid italy might
render Germany by attacks on the French Medi-
terranaen coast or in the Rhone valley would
be limited. The primary mission of the Italian
airforce and Italy's huge fleet of submarines
must be to locate and attack French and Brit
ish sea forces. Unless they can be eliminated,
Italian hopes Of breaking the Gibraltar and
Suez Canal shackles on her economic aspirations
must go unrewarded, even if Frnace finally sue
cumbs to the German onslaught or Is driven
back behind her Marne-Paris-Sein lines of de-
tense.
There can be no doubt that British defenders
of Malta are keyed to expect momentarily the
roar Of Italian air attack. 1t is there that Italy's
first stroke could be expected to fall if she is
Planning a cdAupdISn TO dominate the Med1terra-
mean, seize French Tunisia and Corsica, or even
if, against German interests, she moves to set
the Balkans also aflame with war.
Such speculation as to Italy's real objective
if she taxes the war plunge tend to reduce
French fears that any great part of the Italian
air force will be thrown into the scales against
her.
Rigid Censorship
The rigid censorship in Paris and Berlin n,
details CT the I1Rntinp j., E,--- -.
ficult to discern the actual battle line. Unless
there have been German generations unreport-
ed as rn's IS written, however, the weygand
gateway to Paris and the heart of France.
liz the Bresle river line to which
certain Alnea west flank forces have retired is
the surrendered south bank ae ~ go 'nan
tuary. The south bank of the Rres,a I ~ eut.e es.
with h taeties peculiarly ef adaptable to the wey.
g ganuce,s famous "7s ue1ense' designed to bring