Evening star., 1941-02-23
BY MAY. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT,

ELIOT.
In considering the possibilities Of
the Mediterranean situation, the
factors of time, space and mobility
are for the moment of chief impor-
tance.
In general, troop movements by
sea cover distance much more rap
idly than by land, even in these
days of motorization, for the simple
reason that ships do not have to halt
for the night, or for rest. The
bottlenecks in sea movements are
embarkation and Decentralization
providing the supply of shipping be
ample and these are governed by
available docking facilities, machin-
cry for handling equipment and
stores and the like.
When troops must be embarked or
disembarked in boats or lighters,
the process is decidedly slower than
when the ships can come alongside
a Well-equipped dock. The bottle
necks in land movements are gen.
orally the condition of the roads, the
availability of railways to carry the
bulk of the heavy stores and the
capacity of the road both for direct
and lateral traffic, this also assuming
that there is ample motor transport
available for all necessary purposes.
Pontoons Must be Used.
Applying these principles to the
present situation in the Balkans, we
find the Germans on the Danube
looking south across that flooding
river into Bulgaria. There are no
permanent bridges over the Danube
from Rumania to Bulgaria. Hence
the Germans must depend on pom
toon (loating) bridges, the con-
struction of which Is a part OF the
work of the engineer corps OF all
armies.
The German engineers partlcu-
larly distinguished themselves in
this sort of work, often under fire,
both in Poland and in France. They
are known to have assembled great
quantities of bridge material in Bull
earia and are reported to have con-
structed some experimental bridges
already.
The chief trouble about pontoon
bridges is their vulnerability to at
tack from the air. as they are far
more easily damaged than a solid
concrete and steel permanent struc-
ture. The crossings of the Danube
into Bulgaria are only about ZOO
miles from Greek territory, and 24O-
$50 miles from the island Of Lemnos,
latest reported British air base in
the Aegean Sea.
Poor Roads Lie Ahead.
Once the crossing of the river
has been achieved, the Germans
have poor roads on which to ad-
vance, with the successive barriers
of the Balkan and Rhodope Noun
tains to cross. However, we should
not attach too much importance TO
this, as the Germans will be IN
ample strength, their advance par
ties have been preparing the way,
and their speed and skill In road
and bridge repair are almost un-
belevable.
Moreover, unless all signs fail,
their passage through the noun
tains of Bulgaria will not be op-
posed save possibly by air. They
seem likely to meet opposition on
land only when they reach the
frontier of Greece, or that of Turkey
if they move in that direction. AS
already pointed out, a Turkish ad-
vance into Bulgaria would not seem
either politically or strategically at
tractive.
1t is by no means certain that the
British will decide to move troops
into Salonica, Ravalla or other
points in Greece to oppose the Ger
mans. No doubt that decision has
already been taken as Foreign Sec
retary Eden. Gen. Sir John Dill
(chief of the Imperial General Staff.
and Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell
confer at Cairo.
Indeed, if the movement OF troops
to Greece is going to take place 1t
is quite probable that some OF the
troops are even now on their way.
Bengasi fell on February T. and since
then there has been time to accom-
plish a good deal. Still, the assembly
of a deployed army, with its re-
deploymert on new front against