Evening star., 1941-02-08
WoveII's Campaign

Wuvell S CumPuIgn
The brilliant drive of the British
Army of the Nile from Sidi Barrani
to BengaSi. resulting In a siXty-one-
day conquest of Eastern Libya, un-
doubtedly will go down in military
history as classic example of effec-
tive coordination among land, sea
and air forces. without the we'll
timed support of British naval units
operating in the Mediterranean,
General Wavell's hard-hitting army
would have faced an almost insuper-
able task when it started its push
westward last December. That cam
paign began more as a "feeler" of
Italian resistance than as a carefully
prepared attempt to conduct a
deSert-Style blitzkrieg far into enemy
territory The FasciStS, under Mar
shall Graziani, were taken wholly by
surprise, however, and their strategic
withdrawal" before long developed
into a rout as Wavell's forces. max
ing the most of every opportunity,
pounded the demoralized units
without SurceaSe.
In their retreat, the Italians found
themselves relentlesSly harasSed from
the sea and air as we'll as from land.
Their only feasible way of escape
from the mechanical British forces
was along coastal roads within reach
of powerful naval guns of the Royal
Navy, which maneuvered at will
without serious interference from
the crippled Fascist fleet. Royal Air
Force bombers joined in the attacks.
Under this three-way pressure, Mar
shall Grazianis ot-too-Spirited army
was forced to keep on the move
ever seeking to find a suitable spot
in which to re-establiSh itself and
beat off the pursuers. But General
Wavell, realizing the Importance of
speed, drove his men on and on.
The Italians were allowed little time
in which to consolidate their posi-
tions. Step by step the army of the
Nile marched westward, and step by
step the supporting naval squadron
kept pace. Bardia. Tobruk, Derna
and now Bengasi have fallen under
this co-ordinated onslaught.
What next? Bengasi was Musso-
lini's last stronghold in Eastern
Libya. Its loss obviously is military
disaster of the first order. It's capture
pushes the Italians further away
from their original goal, Suez, and
places the British within easy strik-
ing distance of Tripoli and Sicily.
Full conquest Of Libya by the Brit
1Sh-an objective that would have
seemed fantastic last fall-could be
achieved by capture of Tripoli, cap
ttal of the colony. But Tripoli Is
several hundred miles beyond Ben
gasi and is separated from it by rough
and barren terrain. The terrain, of
course, will operate to the disadvan-
tage Of Graziani's fleeing divisions as
well as to that of Wavell's men. There
are said to be strong Italian forces
defending the capital, and there are
reports of desperate efforts by Mus
solini to rush reinforcements there
by sea and air transports. But it is
doubtful that General Wavell is in
any mood at present to call a halt.
British troops have cut far inland,
across the hump Of land on which
Bengasi IS situated, and have inter
cepted the retreating Fascists. Such
a maneuver conceivably could trap
the remainder of GraZiani's army in
a pocket from which there would be
no salvation other than surrender.
If this should happen, and II the
British Navy can prevent the arrival
Of reserve supplies and men at
Tripoli, 1t would not be surprising
to learn that General Wavell had
decided to continue his remarkable
march until all Of Libya Is under
British control. Such a conquest in
evitably would affect profoundly the
Mediterranean phase of Europe's
war, with incalculable repercussions
In Italy and in the Balkans.