Evening star., 1941-04-27
Balkan War Largely Net Gain
For Britain, Maj. Eliot Holds
Advantage Seen in Having Made Germany
Fight, Drawing Her From Decisive Area

1941 no one ventured to doubt. Ital-
ian troops were on Egyptian soil,
a constant threat to the Suez Canal
and to the British fleet bases in
the Eastern Mediterranean. The
interruption of the communications
of these forces was difficult indeed
because Britain had no base eX-
cept Malta in all the area between
Alexandria and Gibraltar-WhereaS
now she has Crete.
Reasons for Satisfaction.
Italy was able to give good deal
of support to Germany of various
sorts, and her fleet was intact, a
fleet in being. a potential threat.
There was nothing to prevent
full German concentration against
Britain. in, the spring of 1941-let US
say in March. Contrast; that with
the present picture, and it may be
perceived that there are good
reasons for satisfaction in the fact
that Germany has been compelled
to fight, and fight hard, on the
Eastern front, even though the cam
paign has not been as long as it
might have been had there been
more time for military and political
preparation.
AS to the immediate future. also.
there is different picture from the
situation which might have pre-
vailed had there been no Balkan
struggle. Germany may now decide
to attack Turkey; this is not too
likely, for it would be further di-
version, but it might occur. The
Axis effort in North Africa may be
renewed; it seems probable that it
will be, because of the Duke of
Aosta's sudden decision to continue
resistance in East Africa, which can
only be to gain time. But North
Africa is a matter of reinforcementS,
and if the British are strongly REIN
forced before the Axis forces are,
the latter may suffer a severe defeat.
There is thus a chance for a COM
pensating stroke which would do
much to restore British prestige and
assure the safety of the Suez Canal
and the British naval bases in the
Eastern Mediterranean.
1t is, indeed, in the field of morale
and prestige that we must most
carefully assess the results of this
Balkan struggle. Whether Hitler
now attacks Turkey or goes for Glib
raltar, as he may decide to do, or
concentrates on Britain, there can
be no doubt that for the moment he
has gained something by bringing
about the appearance of a British
defeat. The point to be made is
that he is not likely to retain those
gains. Especially in America. Our
people have habit of sober second
thought which will presently bring
them to the realization that it is
Britain, and not Germany, which
has been the real gamer by the
Balkan struggle up to this time
and the first effect of the headlines
will pass away and be forgotten.
Precious Time Gained.
Our defeatistS and appeasers have
as I predicted they would, made
the most of their Balkan holiday;
they have tried, as Col. Lindbergh
did the other night, to tell us that
Britain has already lost this war
has been everywhere beaten, ano
that we cannot help her win a strug-
gle already hopeless. But the Amer.
lean people, with their common
sense and their habit of reflection
will rise superior to this counse
of despair. They will weigh the
facts-and it is the facts, not spe-
cious argument, which will count
in the end.
The facts are that the Balkan