Evening star., 1941-04-28

was already too late TO save It's
territory. They had not time to
mobilize their armies, but were
struck down by the ruthless and
highly mechanical Huns armies
before they could ever bring their
armies into the field.
Great disasters have occurred
in the Balkans. Yugoslavia has
been beaten down. Only in the
mountains can she continue her
resistance. The Greeks have been
overwhelmed.
Their victorious Albanian Army
has been cut off and forced to
surrender and it has been left to
the Anzacs and their British
comrades to fight their way back
to the sea, leaving their mark
on all who hindered them.
Mussolini Ridiculed
For Victory Claims.
I turn aside to indulge for a
moment in little light relief.
I dare say you read in the news
papers that by special proclama-
tion the italian dictator has con-
graduated the Italian Army in
Albania on the glorious laurels
they gained by the victory over
the Greeks.
Here surely is worlds record
in the domain of the ridiculous
and contemplate.
This whipped jackal Mussolini,
who to save his own skin made
all Italy a vassal state to Hitler,
comes frisking up at the side of
the German tiger with yelps not
only of appetite-that could be
understood-but even of triumph.
Different things strike different
people different ways, but I am
sure there are great many
millions in British Empire and
the United States who will find
a new object in life in making
sure that when we come to final
reckoning this absurd imposter
shall be abandoned to public
justice and universal Scorn.
While these grievouS events
were taking place in the Balkan
peninsula and in Greece our
forces in Libya have sustained a
vexatious and damaging defeat.
The Germans advanced sooner
and in greater strength than we
or our generals expected. The
bulk of our armored troops which
played such a decisive part in
beating the Italians had to be
refitted and the single armed
brigade which had been judged
sufficient to hold the frontier
until about the middle of May
was worsted and its vehicles
largely destroyed by a somewhat
stronger German force.
Our infantry, which did not
exceed one division, had to fall
back upon the very large imperial
armies that had been assembled
and can be nourished and main
tanned in the fertile delta of the
Nile. The fortress of Tobruk
which f1anks any German ad-
vance on Egypt we hold strongly.
There we have repulsed many
attacks, causing enemy immense
losses and taking many prisoners.
Fierce, Varied, Widespread
War Is Predicted.
That is how the matter stands
in Libya and on the Egyptian
front. We must now expect the
war in the Mediterranean on the
sea, in the desert and, above all,
in the air, to become very fierce,
varied and widespread.
We have cleaned the Italians
out of Cirenaica and it now lies
with us to purge that province
of Germans. That will be hard
er task and we cannot expect
to do 1t at once. You know I
never try to make out that de-
feats are victories. I have never
underrated the German as a war
rior, indeed, I told you a month
ago that the swift unbroken
course of victories we had gained
over the Italians could not pos
sibly continue and that misfor-
tunes must be expected.
There is only one thing certain
about war-that 1t is full of dis
appointments and also full of
mistakes.
1t remains to be seen, however,
whether it is the Germans who
made mistakes in tramping down
the Balkan states and making a
river of blood between themselves
and the Greek and Yugoslav
peoples.
1t remains also to be seen
whether they made mistake In
their attempt to invade Egypt
with the forces and means of
supply which they now have got
Taught by experience I maks
q rule not to prophesy about bat
ties which have yet to be fought.
This, however, I will venture
to say, that should be very sorry
to see the task of the combatants
in the Middle East exchanged and
for Gen. Wavell's armies to be In
the position of the German in
vaders. That is only a personal
opinion. I can well understand
there may be different views.
1t is certain that fresh dangers
besides those which threaten
Egypt may come upon us in the
Mediterranean. The war may
spread to Spain and Morocco, 1t
may spread westwards to Turkey
and Russia.
The Germans may lay their
hands for a time upon wheat
lands of the Ukraine and oil wells
Of the Caucasus.
They may dominate the Black