Evening star., 1941-03-02
ugoos Copuotn Axis Pressure May Set Off Explosion the Balkans

Sea shore toward Massaua is another
British column, while others pushed into
Ethiopia from Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
Only at one point, Zilmami, Ethiopia,
did Rome even make counter-clairn
against British successes, crediting Fas-
cist detachment with repulsing invading
column there.
One newSworthy development was
noted in Libyan campaign as Mussolini
announced officially that German Army
and air corps were taking over important
responsibilities in defense of this Italian
territory and had inflicted reverses on
British at Agedabia
Rome likewise claimed successful Nazf
bombing attacks on Tobruk and con-
tinued Fascist resistance at oasis of
Giarabub
On Albanian front, Greeks reported
no new gains, but in recapitulation esti-
mated that 10000 italians have been
captured in four months of fighting, plus
comparable numbers of Italian dead, and
the taking of considerable stores of mill
tary equipment. And as of today, Greeks
claimed that their own airplane strength
plus that of British allies is bringing
control of air above all this front.
Important in this entire Mediterranean
theater was London disclosure early in
week that strong and new British SUBJ
marine unit is operating in II Duce's
Mare NoStrum, being credited with sink
Ing OF seven Italian ships. Simultane-
ously, British sources claimed that attack
by German aerial raiders on Mediter-
ranean convoy had been beaten off with
out damage to any of British shipping,
Weeks reports of German blows at
British in Atlantic were not so encourage
ing, however, beginning
Wor on with Hitlers own assertion
Shipping in Monday address that
215,000 tons of enemy
merchant shipping space" had been de-
stroyed in 48-hour period. Of this total.
he credited 10000 tons to submarine
action while claiming that real all-out
submarine effort is only about to begin.
Similarly, Berlin accounts of Mediter-
ranean encounter differed from British
reports as former claimed destruction Of
one transport and firing of another.
And on Thursday Berlin issued the
claim that "long-range planes carried
out daring attack in which nine ships
were sunk and three others so heavily
damaged that their loss is assumed; four
other ships suffered heavy hits
The attack occurred, it was stated,
on convoy about 315 miles west of
Irish coast.
On Friday night new German COM
munique placed British sea losses in past
two days at % ships, 146,O0O tons. Re-
capitulation by Associated Press placed
British tonnage losses since war began
at more than 100000.
AS usual Royal Air Force kept itself
destructively busy during this week, ham,
mering night after night at familiar
targets along invasion coast from Brest
to Flushing.
Westernmost port in Nazi-occupied
France, Brest is German submarine base
for Atlantic raiders. On Tuesday night
it was bombed for 41st time since last
summer, with R. A F. observer reporting
probable hits on Nazi cruiser lying in
berth.
Calais suffered its 61st air raid and
Boulogne, with its spacious and protected
harbor from which transatlantic liners
often sailed, was blasted for 74th time.
On Wednesday observers reported AN
almost endless stream of Spitfres and
Hurricanes" carrying out daylight Of
fensive against German bases on French
coast. And on Tuesday and Wednesday
nights British long range bombers struck
again at Ruhr and Rhine Valleys, indus
trial heart of Reich
For their part, Nazi flyers three times
visited Welsh industrial town of Swansea
and hit hard at one Thames side section
of London.