Evening star., 1941-05-04
Success of Axis in the Balkans
Paves Way for All>Out Drive
Germans Have Army of 80 Divisions in North
Africa, According to Reliable
Reports Reaching Here
By Constantine Brown.

There is no doubt in any military OBJ
servers mind in Washington that Herr
Hitler henceforth will press the British
with all the means in his power. The
Balkan victory was only stepping stone
toward one of the ultimate goals of the
axis: The bottling up of the Mediter
ranean, which should precede the total
attack on Great Britain.
In Africa the German forces are being
Systematically reinforced. Not less than
80 divisions are reported, in official
quarters, to be in North Africa. This
figure sounds fantastic but is said to be
correct.
How the Germans managed to get so
many men across the Mediterranean in
q period of two months is one of the
many inexplicable things about this war
At first it was believed that the French
double crossed their former ally and,
In spite of the statements from Vichy,
had permitted German forces to land
from France in Tunisia, whence they
might make their way into Tripolis. But,
according to American observers placed
at strategic points in that French pro-
tectorate, very few Germans have come
over. They say that no German units
have entered the North African territory.
The explanation which our officials are
accepting is that the Germans crossed in
large italian transports from Sicily at
night. The British fleet has been en-
gagged of late in other sections of the
Mediterranean and was able to patrol
the seas which separate Sicily from
North Africa only one, at the most
twice, week. The Germans with their
Intelligence services knew the exact time
when these patrols would appear and
kept out of the way of the British men
Of war.
Axis Strength in North Africa.
Whatever mystery surrounds the land
ing of this force, unimpeachable sources
place axis strength in North Africa con-
servatively at 80 divisions. A German
motorized division has been detached
from the main force and is now some
where in the desert" with the objective
Of creating a diversion in the Sudan far
from the lower Nile. British aviation
has been able to locate this division
as moving toward Aswan. 1t is being
supplied with gasoline and oil from air.
planes which also have arrived in large
numbers in North Africa
The German forces in Greece were ac-
eompanied by detachments of sailors
and carried with their equipment sections
of speed launches. AS soon as victory
was in sight these set out for Salonika,
Kavalla and Volos Dede-Agatch and
occupied the undefended Greek islands
In the Aegean Sea. Thus the entire
coast of Asia Minor is dotted with Ger
man and Italian bases whence the axis
forces can land on Turkish territory.
The Turks have fortified the Dardanelles
but have neglected the lire from the
mouth of the straits to the Gulf of
Adalia. German airplanes are being
rushed to Lemnos, Mytilene, Khios and
Samos. Of these Greek islands Lemnos
and Mytilene are the most important,
since they offer excellent shelters for
submarines (Which can also be brought
In sections) and first-class air bases for
the Axis aviation.
Asia Minor Route.
It Is clear that while it is possible
that the Germans might attempt di-
version toward Istanbul, which no longer
has the same strategic value it used
to have years ago, they will unquestion-
ably do their utmost to reach the Suez
Canal through Asia Minor. In order
to accomplish this it will be necessary
to weaken the efficiency of the British
fleet. More than so per cent of Britains
naval combat power is in the Mediter-
ranean today. 1t is guarding the
eastern section in an attempt to prevent
the establishment of a permanent line
of communication between Italy and
Cyrenaica.
The presence of the German forces
around Tobruk and possibly in lower
Egypt will compel Britain to keep her
navy in the zone between Malta and
Alexandria. Only small units can be
sent near the Asiatic shores as long