Evening star., 1941-01-16
Greeks Need Extra Push
English Progress in Libyo Might Prove Deciding
Point in Oustinu ItoIiuns From Albunu

but to bad weather, to lengthening
Greek communications and want OF
transport, and to the fact that the
Greeks simply did not have enough
available troops and especially air.
blanes to smash on through the
tremendously difficult country ahead
of them.
The Italian German air attack
on a British convoy bringing ma
terial aid to Greece" is significant.
Very likely a good part of this aid
was In the form of planes, fuel,
bombs and motor transport. The
farther an army advances, the more
transport it needs to maintain its
lire of communications, unless an
advanced base, which can be reached
by rail or sea, can be established
In this case, it is hardly possible
to build a railway through the
mountains, at least not in the time
available. Sea transport cannot be
depended on save insofar as Porto
Edda can be used by the Greeks
Even then a considerable road haul
is necessary. Trucks must, then, be
one of the great needs of the Greeks
fact which is attested by cor
respondents stories of the remark
able collection Of vehicles of every
imaginable type now being en-
ployed on the Greek lines of COM
munications. The stalemate has
been broken, however, by the fall
of KllsSura and the subsequent Local
successes of the Greeks on all foul
fronts
Fall Brings Army Shakeup.
The significance of Klissura's
capture was underlined by the re-
tirement almost Immediately there
after of the italian commander ir
chief in Albania, Gen. Soddu, whose
task the chief of staff of the army
Gen. Cavallero, has seen fit Cor beer
ordered y to take over in person.
Progress by the Greek right CEN
ter column from Klissura toward
Berati threatens the right flank
and rear of the Italians defending
Elbasan. In conjunction with the
coastal column, it also threatens
completely to isolate the Italians In
| the left center sector Chat of Tepe-
lind. Additional transport would
now give greater radius of action
to the Greeks and perhaps, with
little more help in the air. enable
them to push on to Berati and
valona. If this occurs, it is diff
cult to see how Elbasan can be held
and the italians may be compelled
to evacuate all Southern Albania
and retire to line of defense along
the eaSt-west valley of the Shkumbi
River. But here they would be de-
pendent solely on the port of Du-
razzo. with a trickle of additional
supplies coming by the northern
port of San Giovanni de Medua.
Need Extra Push.
The concentration of the Anglo
Greek air attacks on Durazzo which
would follow might imperil the
whole italian forces remaining in
Albania. In other words, If the
Greeks can now find the extra
push" needed to put them into
valona and Berati, they will have
come close to accomplishing theii
major object-the expulsion of the
Italians from Albania altogether.
But they have not as yet gotter
into either place, nor is it as yet GER
tain that the Germans will not, al
the last minute, decide to intervene
with at least strong air rein
forcement to prevent so heavy 9
defeat being inflicted on their allies
German fighters and anti-aircraft
could do a good deal to help protect
the vital seaports, and to make
more risky the Anglo-Greek nava,
operations in the Strait Of Otranto
Just how much this can or will be
offset by like British contribution
to the Greek cause remains to be
seen. The progress of the Libyar
campaign will doubtless directly af-
feet the amount of aid that Britain