Evening star., 1941-03-05
Offensive
Continued From First Page)

the Germans have started their own
reconnaissance and regular patrols
in the Central Mediterranean. Using
heavily armed, long-range bombers
for the job, they are looking over the
whole area. Britains Hurricanes
have bagged FIVE of them in the last
10 days.
Totaling up facts, this Malta cor
ner indicates Germany is doing
three things: First, she is taking
over Italy's job wherever possible;
second, she is preparing the way for
a possible determined effort to come
into the Central Mediterranean in
force; third, she hopes to keep as
many British troops and planes oc-
cupied as possible.
Army in Training Again.
Next to consider is the British
counter-action to the German ac-
tivity. Britain has more troops in
the Middle East area than ever be-
fore What sections of the Italian
empire in Africa remain to be
cleaned up can be done with a lin
tied number of troops. The larger
portion OF the Army of the Middle
East is in training again.
BY now the most experienced
desert troops in the area are start
ing all over again in a different
kind of training, and it is for an
offensive. Better equipped than
ever before, the new offensive army
is as good as the British expedi-
tionary force that went to France.
More experienced and double it's
own strength six months ago, the
British air force in the Middle East
is proportionally better than the air
force that met the Germans in
France.
Though few facts can be revealed
about this new army, 1t can be
said in general terms that 1t is the
best the British have had since
1918. 1t is better than any the
Nazis have met anywhere yet. And
the most promising thing is the in
tensive improvement in co-ordina-
ton of land, sea and air forces.
Actually 1t Is no secret that the
hoped for offensive will be against
the Germans. There is little like
lihood of an invasion of Italy by
the British as yet. This is not i'm
possible, but Germany is really be-
coming the principal Mediterranean
enemy
Finally. in this training the Brit
ish are learning superior mobility.
1t is certain that in any Mediter-
ranean war between British and
German troops, the latter would
strive as always to deliver knock
out blow quickly. The British chance
of defeating the Germans in such
a battle would be to force the fast
Nazi Army to slow down and finally
to force it into trench warfare. To
do this the British troops must have
superior mobility. They must be
able to appear at every point that
the enemy rushes to as a possible
breaking through place. And keep
reappearing until the enemy gives
up trying to break through.
British Prepare Offensive.
To support an offensive the Brit
ish began building up supplies.
There is no shortage here, but large
quantities of supplies were consumed
in the African campaigns. Any
Mediterranean War must last more
than year. Over that period the
British could build up tremendous
supplies. All present activity indi-
Gates the British are preparing to
meet the German troops somewhere
in the Mediterranean area, that they
are preparin gto go beyond their
own territory to do so, and that any
immediate move by Britain Is de-
pendent on land contact with the
German forces.
The third corner Of the Mediter-
ranean area is the Suez Canal zone,
which would be the quickest to be
affected by any further German
move. A German attempt to move
toward the canal or an attempted