GREEK SUCCESSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 42, 29 November 1940, Page 5

GREEK SUCCESSES.

REPERCUSSIONS IN THE EAST.

SYRIA INCLINING TO ALLIES

LONDON, November 27

The Cairo correspondent of “The Times!’ says that the Greek successes are producing tremendous repercussions in the Near East.

They have swung the weathercock in Syria to such an extent that the Vichy Government has appointed a new High Commissioner (M. Chiappe) in an endeavour to stop the rot, while all Egyptian qualms about an Italian invasion are now dispelled. Instead of being something in Egyptian popular imagination, Signor Mussolini is now a mere figure of fun. The question is naturally being asked whether the Greek victories should not be followed up by fresh blows against the Italians in Libya, but it is not easy to give a positive answer, because the Libyan campaign fought across an almost waterless desert 300 miles wide, creates special problems and invalidates various general principles applicable elsewhere.

After Italy’s entry into the war, the British forces were at a disadvantage in maintaining advanced positions on the far edge of the desert. It is no secret that General Headquarters were delighted when Marshal Graziani relieved them of part of the disadvantage by advancing to Sidi Barrani, where he now seems stuck.

The British Commander-in-chief (General Sir Archibald Wavell) may be forgiven if he thinks twice before deciding again to accept the initial disadvantage by taking the offensive. Royal Air Force units sent from Egypt to Greece are employed as advantageously there, if not more so.

CLAIMS BY THE ITALIANS. SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACKS;. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 28. An Italian communique says that on the Greek front Italian troops of the 11th Army yesterday successfully coun - ter-attacked at several points on the front. Several hundred planes co-oper-ated and bomhed the Kozane ano Fiorina aerodromes.