Evening star., 1942-11-09
Operations in Africa
May Open Supply Line
In Mediterranean
Victory Would Exert
lmportont Bearing on :.
Other War Theuters
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CAIRO, Nov. 8 Delayed. The
British 8th Armyis lightning blows
against the Axis forces in Egypt,
coupled with the landing Of United
States troops in French North
Africa, have changed the entire pic
ture. in the Mediterranean basin.
Within fortnight grave concern
over the outlook has given way to
= rising tide Of optimism, inspired by
the most hopeful tokens Of ultimate
victory in three years of conflict.
Early opening Of a reasonably
safe Allied supply route through the
Mediterranean is one of the numer-
oils advantages which may we'll
stem from current developments.
Once Field Marshal Erwin ROM
mel Is taken care of and Axis DOM.
tnation over French North Africa
Is ended, British and American air.
men should make 1t possible for
Allied ships to ply the Mediterranean
in comparative safety, thus shorten
ing vital supply lines to India,
Australia and Russia.
May Affect Other Fronts.
A complete victory in North Africa
thus would have an important bear
ing on all those theaters.
From the very beginning OF the
war sections Of opinion in Britain,
the United States and elsewhere
have held that the war could: be won
in the Middle East. Resolute fight
ing forces OF the Allies now are
doing much to support this opinion,
and historians may we'll select the
period between October 23 and No
vember as one Of the most de-
cisive Of the war.
As 4 matter of fact, the job of
cleaning up the Axis forces in Egypt
Is being done faster and more COM
pletely than was anticipated. Led
by 1t. Gen. B. L. Montgomery, the
9Th Army Is giving . lesson in blitz-
krieg tactics to Rommel, erstwhile
master Of blitz.
The Axis chieftain now has the
devils own choice-tO run or fight.
Whichever he does is bad for him.
Hitherto he had the possibility of
trying to save something of his
Africa Corps by a hasty retreat,
abandoning some six Italian divisions
to destruction while getting out with
his German troops and at least
part Of their armored equipment.
Now, however, he Is only shorten
ing the distance between himself
and the powerful American forces
pouring into Algeria.
Losses Heavy In Men and Guns.
II, he elects to stand and fight,
he must count on continuing losses
to his already hard-hit forces
such as he suffered at Fuka Escarp-
ment and elsewhere during theapast
week.
It Is possible that Rommel might
attempt = stand on the Egyptian
Libyan border behind the miles Of
tangled barber wire put up by the
Germans, Italians and British in
past desert warfare. But having
lost already more than 900 to 1000
guns and more than 10000 soldiers
captured IN addition to uncolmted
dead, his future there or further
west around Tobruk does not look
too bright.
Already elated over what the 8th
Army is doing to Rommel, Cairo re-
ceived with Joy the announcement
Of the American operations in
French North Africa. Eager crowds
clustered around bulletin boards.
American quarters were elated
over the perfect timing Of the ma
neuver and the fact that what was
up had not leaked out in advance.
Axis radio reports that the Allies
were up to something big In Africa
had been dismissed here As mere
fishing expeditions.