Evening star., 1941-11-23
Outcome Of British Offensive
In Libya Could Decide War
Axis Has Been Planning Attack in Eastern
Mediterranean for Mosu1 Oil Fields;
Africa's Loss Would Be Blow
Br Constantine Brown.

this force has already reached the Medi-
terranean or is on its way there to put
an end to the movement of the British
transports and their naval escorts.
The italians are expected to cooperate
with the Nazi submarines. They have
stable undersea feet consisting of at
least 96 craft, which are much larger
and better constructed than German
submarines. They suffer however, from
one handicap-lack of personnel.
Personnel Want No Fight.
Italian submarine crews, like those
of surface vessels. are war-weary. They
seldom put to sea with the idea Of at
tacking the enemy and are reported to
remain quietly beneath the surface
when their detectors indicate the pres
enre of convoy ships. The officers deduce
Immediately that British warships are
above them and consider discretion the
better part of valor.
According to reliable reports. the Ger
mans are detailing line officers to take
command Of the Italian submarines in
an attempt to make use Of them. Since
the British Admiralty must consider
such reports IS being true il believes
the British feet will be compelled 70
contend with about $50 submarines
based on the italian, Greek and Yugo-
slav ports during this winter.
Is it probable that, as one of the vari-
Gus points of agreement between Ger
many and France. the Vichv government
may agree to patrol" the Mediterranean
In conjunction with the italian and Ger
/ man Navies. 1t is possible that the
French bases at Toulon Ajaccio and in
North Africa may be placed az the dis
/ posal of the Nazis. Should this occur
the number of submarines opposing the
British may increase to about 1870
Italian surface ships give no concern
to the British Admiralty. Even if thev
had Nazi officers or the quarterback the
crews would prefer to retire to the rela-
tive safety of Adriatic ports than meet
British feet. regardless Of how inferior
in number. But the preponderant num-
bers Of the Nazi submarines does worry
the British considerably.
While II is true that supplies for the
armies of Egypt and the Near East can
be sent from the United States by way
of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea,
the quickest way is through the Mediter-
ranean. Furthermore. neither Britain $
land forces nor her aviation are sufficient
to prevent an Axis landing on the coast
Of Asia Minor
Strong Fleet Only Guarantee.
pri+ !, ir l.
guarantee that the Nazis won't succeed
in the Near East. The Germans would
be compelled. according to the estimates
of experienced British and American
military men. to pour into that area al
least a million men-possibly more-in
order to overcome the British forces be-
tween Syria and Iran. And, according
to these experts. the British Navy, with
the assistance Of the air force and the
land forces. can do their job effectively
The air and land forces alone can offer
only short-lived resistance to the Ger
man onslaught.
The principal danger to the British
feet is not the Stukas. nor is 1t the
German submarines which. based on in
1lulIlel dDle pOIllIS III lIle CdSleIu Neuliti
ranean, may cause untold damage tC
British men of war.
The situation is not grave at the pres
ent moment. but from past experience
the Admiralty knows that the Nazis will
not go haIf-heartedIy into this venture
which may decide their victory or defeat
in the war. Hence. the British naval
staff wants to concentrate in the Medl-
terranean at the earliest possible moment
every available destroyer. corvette ano
motorboat capable Of fighting subma-
rines in the feature bout of this war
the battle for the Near East.
AS long as the Royal Navy was COM
PEELED to watch over the Atlantic and
bring supplies safely from the United
States the defense of the Mediterranean
suffered. Now that the United States
Navy has taken over. it is expected that
the ma jority Of light cruisers destroyer'
and corvettes. in short all the fast YES
sells on duty between Iceland and thr
Irish Sea, will be ordered to duty in tl1'
Mediterranean from the Straits o.
| Gibraltar to the Suez Canal.