Evening star., 1942-10-04

the United Kingdom lacked planes and
arms, there Is no chance Of their being
able to gain an inch of English soil
now, when powerful American British
force is stationed in England.
Mediterranean Drive Possible.
The time Is ripe for an offensive IN
the Mediterranean, however. The heat
of summer in the Egyptian desert and
the Near East is giving way to temperate
weather. The Nazis are reported to have
been gathering strength in the Balkans
the last few months. It must be remern-
bered that an expedition of any kind
requires intensive preparations which
take at least four or five months.
Reports have been heard since last
June and earlier, that Nazi forces were
being dispatched to Greece and the
ports of the Dodecanese Islands. 1nva-
sion barges were being brought there or
constructed on the spot in large num-
bers. Airfields were being laid out and
the principal airports in Greece and
Southern Bulgaria were being improved
to permit long range bombers to take
of.
These preparations indicated to lay.
men who read these dispatches that tho
Nazis were ready to start their new
campaign at once, and since nothing
happened these reports were laid aside
as nothing more than tall stories. Mill
. tary experts. however, took stock IN
these reports, which frequently were
only partly confirmed. ..-.
They know, for instance, that the
reason Field Marshal Erwin Ronmel
did not reach Alexandria last summer
was that he had made preparations only
to take Tobruk and it was only the lack
Of British resistance which permitted
him to advance within so miles of Alex
andria Since that time he has received
reinforcements - especially aviation -
and after having tested the American
British front few weeks ago he has
been waiting for further reinforcements.
and probably Nazi attack in some
other part of the Mediterranean basin,
before he tries his luck again.
The time taken by the Nazis in pre-
pairing their offensive in that area has
not been wasted by the American and
British high commands. According to
official announcements, there is strong
United Nations force in Egypt and the
Near East today. This force is more
nearly homogeneous than last June.
since the bulk OF, the field forces are
Anglo American. The other elements,
at times less reliable, form q second line,
with the principal mission OF policing
the rear and preventing uprisings of
Arabs and other elements which might
have been Influenced by the Nazis to
stab the United Nations forces in tho
back. ,r.
Egyptian Front Vital.
The American high command consid-
ers Egypt and the Near East as one Of
the vital fronts in this war. This is for
two reasons: OIL and the German -Japa-
nese pincers movement against the Near
East.
Even if the Nazis get the Caucasus oil
fields it will take them long time to
put them in working condition again.
Generally, the Russians have done more
thorough job of destroying their oil
fields and ref1neries and arrangements
are said to have been made to blow up
the Baku IL fields if the Germans reach
that area. ,. a.. .
The Nazis need oil desperately and
their best bet is the Iraq fields, from
which two convenient pipelines run to
Palestine and Syria. It would be much
easier for them to utilize the Mosul oil
fields than those in the U. 8. S. r. once
they have complete control of the Med
lterranean. Hence, they are believed
planning to attempt to dislodee the
Allies from that area.
1t Is generally believed, too, that the
NaAs want to join hands with their
Pacific associate-Japan. This would be
possible once they have broken through
Egypt and ousted United Nations forces
from the Suez Canal.
A junction between the European and
Aslatic branches of the Axis can be &C
compl1shed only through Nazi CONQUEST
OF the Near East. In many highly re-
spons1ble military and naval quarters il
IS believed that a Nazi success in that
region might mean a ten-fold increase
IN the Allies burden there, If not a fatal
oiow to the United Nations. Hence, the
lull since Field Marshal Rommels last
victory has been adequately utilized by
the Allied high command.
Allied Strength Growing.
Allied reinforcements either have ar-
rived In the Near East or are on the way
tnere IN such numbers that we can look
with confidence to developments OF the
next lew months In the Eastern Medi-
terranean. In this respect we must be
deeply grateful to the Russians. If it had
not been for the valiant resistance to
Nazi onslaughts, II the armies there had
YIELDED to Nazt force like the nations OF
Western Europe except for Britain-the
AXIS forces In the Mediterranean Basin
might have been able to start their of.
1ensive IN Egypt ana the Near East
sooner, before reinforcements fron tn.
United States and Great Britain had ar.
| rived.
For the time being 1t Is not believed
that the United Nations forces .rs ,r
position to take the Offensive. They could
DO SO. but it would be costly affair
which might eventually end In disaster
We must always bear in mind that In
order to send reinforcements OF men and
war materials to that area our transport.
must travel over stretch Of $4,000 mile,
OF water while the Naxis are not more
than 500 miles acroSs the Mediterranean
Hence. the high command must remain
| cautious and m,ist mt rieh - s.%.--...-