NEW QUESTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 9

NEW QUESTIONS

BRITISH CONTROL

MEDITERRANEAN WATERS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received November 2, 11.50 a.m.)

RUGBY, November 1

The entry of Greece into the war following Italian aggression opens up new-questions in the control of the Mediterranean.

Although many good harbours far nearer Italian waters than Alexandria, where the British western fleet is based, are now opon to tho British Navy, especially Crete and the lonian Islands, it must not be forgotten that advance bases cannot be made overnight. Such bases are no good unless they are safe from attack, which means quantities of material and time in order to prepare artillery positions and under-water defence, but such bases are necessary if communications through the Aegean Sea are to be maintained.

In considering British strategy in the Mediterranean the rival air force position must be regarded as a whole, and this has not been forgotten. German aerial activity over Britain, especially London, is continuing, as on an ever-increasing scale are the British attacks on Germany. The present British naval plans may be summarised as being designed to maintain a strong force, to contain and give battle to the Italian fleet, and to keep the seas open for supplies.

The Italian fleet is by no means a negligible factor. It is numerous and on the whole modern. Its designers, however, have been inclined to sacrifice strength to s,peed, and in this respect an amusing story is current. Shortly before the war a British naval officer was talking to an Italian captain who had recently been appointed to command a new battleship. The Italian officer was full of praise for his craft, and detailed her perfections, finishing up by saying: "And her speed! She is so fast that no one could catch me."