Evening star., 1942-06-22
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

The successes so far attained by
the German armies in Libya are
illustrative Of the advantage still
possessed by Germany OF operating
on interior lines. A central position
and interior lines OF communication
offer great possibilities as long as
they can be used for offensive opera
tions
1t is clear that the Germans still
strategic initiative. While they still
have the power to strike heavy
blows. they can choose their own
battle-ground and make the United
Nations come and fight there. 1t is
only when waning strength deprives
the holder Of the central position OF
this power to take the offensive that
the disadvantages of such position
begin to be really apparent.
If by that time he has not sue
ceeded in breaking down some part
of the ring of foes which surrounds
him, he is then all too likely to be-
come beleaguered and to be pro-
gressively weakened by blockade as
his enemies grow stronger to at
tack him.
This seems likely to be Japan's
fate If she cannot gain complete
freedom Of action on the continent
of Asia and 1t is certain to be Ger
many's fate if Germany cannot
knock out either Russia or Great
Britain this year
United Nations Strategy.
The Germans will use their in
terror lines to strike blows of great
power, such as the blow they have
struck in North Africa. The United
Nations must resist these blows as
best they can, giving ground where
they must, selling territory as dearly
as possible and striving to keep the
Germans from gaining any decisive
advantage anywhere.
II this were ALL the German
chances would be brighter than they
are; but as already pointed out in
a previous article. the United Ma
tions have the advantage inherent
in their exterior position and their
command of the sea Of being able to
effect strategical surprise against
any point of the vast perimeter
which contains the German forces.
For this year, this advantage seems
likely to be largely expended in di-
versionary efforts. When the limit
ing factors, particularly that Of
shipping, enable full-Scale offenSiveS
to be launched by the United Ma
tions, the German case will be a
very much more perilous one.
At the moment, however, we are
dealing with the immediate situation
in North Africa. Here the change
came very quickly from reasonably
favorable situation in which the
Axis forces were being held west
and southwest of Tobruk to one in
which Tobruk has fallen, and the
Germans are back at the Libyan-
Egyptian frontier with Bardia re-
ported in their hands.
Fresh Tribute to Rommel.
Such a sudden change could have
been effected only by the throwing
in of a powerful Axis reserve at the
decisive moment, and must there
fore be credited as a fresh tribute to
the leadership of Field Marshal
Rommel. 1t is all very we'll to ac-
knowledge Napoleon's maxim that
victory goes to the general who has
the last reserve, but the qualities of
mind and heart necessary to hold
that reserve intact until it is needed
and then throw it in boldly at the
moment of greatest advantage are
not possessed by every general.
As to the immediate future of this
campaign, that will probably be de-
termined by two factors:
/. Whether Rommel has still
further reserves in hand to keep