A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 117, 11 February 1941, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Flexible Resources NAVY HITS AGAIN

M'liat Mr. Churchill graphically described i» his broadcast as the “flexible resources of sea-power” have again been employed in the Mediterranean with telling effect. Barely 24 hours after Benghazi, capital and principal base of Cyrenaica, had surrendered to the lightning onslaught of the advance forces of the Army of the Nile, a British naval force, at dawn on Sunday carried out a “very heavy bombardment” of the Italian base at Genoa. In the light of what is happening in Northern Africa and of Nazi intrigue in Paris and Vichy, this highly successful operation was well-timed indeed. “It is right,” said Mr. Churchill, “that the Italian people should be made to feel the sorry plight into which they have been dragged, and if the cannonade at Genoa, rolling along the coast and reverberating in the mountains, has reached the ears of our French comrades in their grief and misery, it may cheer them with the feeling that friends—active friends —are near, and that Britannia rules the waves.” Port Of Genoa The significance of Mr. Churchill’s words lies in the fact that the great Italian harbour and base of Genoa lies at the head of tlie Gulf of Genoa, not far east of the French frontier and only 160 miles north-east of France’s great naval base of Toulon, the headquarters of what remains to her of her fleet. It was Mr. Churchill who hinted that from Genoa “perhaps, a Nazi German expedition might soon have sailed to attack General Weygand in Algeria or Tunis.” Genoa is the largest and most important port in Italy. It has berthage space at its wharves and quays to accommodate and work 130 ships, large and small, at one time. Its modern harbour, equipped with the most up-to-date appliances, has an area of 1005 acres. Its quays measure 405 acres. The length of the western breakwater is 2625 feet. There is an average depth in the outer harbour of 59 feet, and at the external jetty the depth ranges from 49 feet to 72 feet. The old inner harbour with an area of 535 acres, has a depth of from 23 feet to 40 feet. Italy’s largest liners, Rex, 51,000 tons, and Conte di Savoia, 48,500 tons, find safe berthage in Genoa, which is their “home port.” The port is well-equip-ped with dry-docks, the largest of which accommodate the liners mentioned. Pisa, an important railway junction, and Leghorn, a seaport with large oil refineries, lie about 70 miles to the south-east. Apart from the serious damage done at Genoa to docks, engineering works, and other military targets, numerous hits were made on the oil-fuel installation and oil tanks. Genoa is one of the principal oil ports of Italy, ami on the harbour-front there are storage tanks with a capacity of 42,000 tons of fuel-oil and 37,000 tons of lubricating and mineral oils. Famous Ships

The composition of Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville’s squadron Is of special interest. It included the battlecruiser Renown with six 15-inch guns, the battleship Malaya, eight 15-inch guns, the cruiser Sheffield (a sistership to the ill-fated Southampton), with 12 6-inch guns, the famous aircraftcarrier Ark Royal and a screening force of light cruisers and destroyers. The Renown was in action last May off the Norwegian coast witli the German battle-cruiser Seharnhorst and the heavy cruiser Hipper. In tlie teeth of a heavy gale tlie Renown worked up to 24 knots on that occasion and spotted a hit on the former German ship, which turned away with her consort and escaped in the mist. A few months ago the Renown took part in the effort to bring the retiring Italian fleet to action south-west of Sardinia.

The battleship Jlakrya was a gift tn the Royal Navy from the Federated Malay States and was the fifth of the Queen Elizabeth class to be ordered. The 1912-13 programme authorized four ships of this type, but in November, 1912, the Federated Council of the. Malay States approved a resolution, moved by the Sultan of Perak, offering a first-class battleship to the British Government. The Malaya was launched on the Tyne in a snowstorm on March 18, 1915, and commissioned by Captain the Hon. A. Boyle (now Admiral of the Fleet the Ear! of. Cork and Orrery). She joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow on February IS, 1916. As a unit of the Fifth Battle Squadron, H.M.S. Malaya fought in the Battle of Jutland on May 31, 1916. She sustained seven hits from large shells and her casualties were 63 killed and 33 wounded. Being the rear ship in the squadron she was heavily engaged by the battleships of the High Seas Fleet between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. In 1921 the Malava paid a special visit to the Federated Malay States. In recent years she has been largely reconstructed and modernized. Coming Events

That even greater events are pending in the Mediterranean is indicated in several passages in Mr. Churchill s speech. His mention of the Nazi infiltration into the Balkans where a ‘‘considerable German army and air force is being built up and its foremost tentacles have already penetrated Bulgaria” foreshadows early action by Germany in that region. Many preparations have been made, said Mr. Churchill, for the movement of German troops into or through Bulgaria and “perhaps this southward movement has already begun.”

The unhappy position of Italy in Albania and the pending complete overthrow of Italian power in Africa constitute a most serious cheek to Hitler's plans and there can be little doubt that the German High Command will shortly- make a great effort to retrieve the position. Whatever may eventuate in regard to the much-talked-of invasion of Britain, Hitler’s main efforts must be concentrated on a supreme effort to smash the British blockade of Germany (Europe) and to counter the throttling effects of British sea-power in the Mediterranean which’may’ well be the decisive theatre of the war. While Britain holds Gibraltar, the free passage of the 'Mediterranean and its eastern entrances —as well as Singapore in the Far East—she holds the trump cards. Hence Hitler’s pressure on Vichy, his preparations in Rumania and his invasion threats.

In the meantime Britain strikes hard and effectively along the shores of the Mediterranean and tears the Italian Empire to tatters. Already British troops have swept far past Benghazi to the head of the Gulf of Sidra. The next and final objective far along that coast is Tripoli. A great combined attack by sea, air and land is surely imminent and may give us possession of Tripoli before this month is past. (S.D.W.)