Evening star., 1941-03-09
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
EIInT


Once more we have had a week
of combined political and military
maneuvering, a further illustration,
If one were needed, of the impossi-
piiity of separating political from
military considerations in the study
of this total war.
In the Balkans the unknown fac
tors remain Yugoslavia and Great
Britain. After several days of head
lines (reacting to news from axis
on suspect sources) handing Yugo-
slavia over to the axis body and
soul, it now becomes clear that
the army is being modified, that the
army and the opposition parties are
Developing a stout stand against
any show of weakness by the gov
ernment, that pro-ally Gen. Dusan
Simovich has regained his old post
as chief Of staff-in fine, that any,
thing may happen, and that it is
still too early to count Yugoslavia
in the axis column. The position
of the country is terribly exposed,
true; against that is the near GER
tainty that Germany wants no war
in the Balkans just now. The final
Yugoslav decision may and prob
ably will depend on how much help
will be available from Britain: I'm
mediate and worthwhile help.
The British decision as to where
and when and how to use the Army
of the Nile may in turn depend on
the attitude of Yugoslavia, on es-
Inmates of the actual German readi-
ness to fight in the Balkans and
on the fears and necessities of
of Turkey. The Army of the Nile
is almost certainly too small to be
divided; if it is to be used to
help Greece-and possibly Yugo-
slavia-its effect on German at
tack will be indirect. If it must be
put in to help hold the Straits
against German attack it cannot be
used at Salonica.
Gibraltar Still Important.
But, as previously pointed out In
these articles, we ought not, while
watching the eastern end of the
Mediterranean, forget the western.
Whether the German purpose in
the Balkans be pacification or war,
it would be an immense advantage
to Hitler if the Strait of Gibraltar
could be closed. We have thought
of this in terms of a possible Ger
man advance through Spain, though
the risks of such a course are not
inconsiderable. There is, however,
the south side of the strait also to
be considered.
1t is becoming clear that Gen
Weygand is having increasing diff
Guilty in maintaining freedom of ac-
ton. The British now admit that
German officers and men, osten-
sibly on duty with the Armistice
Commission, are appearing in
Morocco in increasing numbers.
Madrid reports that they are TAX
ing over control of all French
Morocco. This may be an exaggera-
ton, but it is certain that the Ger
mans are flltering in. and it is hard
to see what Gen. Weygand can do
to prevent it unless he is prepared
to use force
The French Army in North Africa
is known to be sadly short of am
munition, mechanical equipment
and motor fuel; the air force,
though it has 100000 planes, has
been compelled to lay up many of
these for lack of fuel, and is like
wise short of ammunition. Even so,
if Gen. Weygand were prepared to
defy the axis and throw out the
Germans he might be able to do so
but does he dare without the or
ders of Marshal Petain? And is the
marshal in any position to give
such orders, even if he desires to
do so? Can any fortnight anti
German decision now be taken at
Vichy? We had better be prepared
to revise our whole estimate of the