Evening Post MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1940.

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1940, Page 6

Evening Post MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1940.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

Nothing in the news of events during the weekend can be taken as seriously impairing the favourable view of the progress of Britain and her new ally, gallant little Greece, in their struggle against the forces of aggression. The Greek army, with such assistance as Britain is providing in increasing measure | with her Air Arm and with ground equipment, is continuing its advance against the retreating Italians in Albania. The country is difficult and the weather, at this time of the year, bad, so that swift movement by either side is hardly to be expected. What is more encouraging is the statement that the Greek advance is methodical—"wary" is the word used —giving the impression that the Greek High Command knows what it is doing and the risks that would be involved by letting Greek elan, which is naturally very high after the fall of Koritza, have full rein. Greek strategy has been skilful, and the lie of the country, with its ranges and rivers running mainly parallel with the Adriatic coast, is likely to impede Italian retreat and open up possibilities of disaster to Italian armies if the Greeks by advances up the coast can cut off access to the sea. The R.A.F. is helping the Greeks greatly by harassing Italian movements and bombing their bases and ports on both sides of the Adriatic. Mr. Churchill, who always weighs his words, expressed his satisfaction with the position in a message to General Metaxas in which he said: "We are all inspired by this feat of Greek valour against an enemy so superior in numbers and equipment. This recalls the classic age." Nothing will stir the Greeks more deeply to even stouter effort than this reference to the glories of their past.

Elsewhere in the Middle Eastern front things are going well for us and indifferently for the Italians. In the Sudan theatre and in Libya the Italians have suffered losses in patrol actions and by air and naval bombardment. Nearer home the R.A.F. has once more bombed Turin with its Royal Arsenal and giant Fiat works most effectively. Germany has also sustained heavy air attacks over a wide area, including Berlin, Leipzig, Krupps, Duisburg-Ruhrort, and Channel ports and submarine and air bases on the French coast. The effect of all this is felt throughout the country occupied by the ' Nazis. The star of British prestige is steadily rising and the subject peoples of the Nazis see in it now a veritable star of hope, and are growing more restive under their oppressors. There are signs of this in Holland, Denmark, the Low Countries, and, particularly, France, where the people are awakening from the stupor of the sudden collapse and betrayal of their country by the men of Vichy in the latter days of June. There seems to be no doubt that the Nazis are alarmed at the change in the situation since then, and Hitler's frantic ' diplomatic campaign to secure new allies for the Axis to compensate for loss of military prestige is an indication. So far his efforts to "sign up" the greater European Powers as adherents of the "new order in : Europe" have failed dismally. The fuss made of the signatures of vassal States, like Hungary, Slovakia, and Rumania, is a measure of that failure. The mountain produces mice. The new air tactics of the Luftwaffe over Britain—the heavy night, bombing

!of provincial towns —are no doubt designed to divert attention from the Continental victories of the R.A.F. But the firmness of Turkey and, it is now reported, Yugoslavia in refusing to bow to threats by the Nazi propaganda leaders is an assurance of increasing confidence in the powers of resistance displayed by Greece and Britain and the ultimate victory

of their cause.