The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1940. REASONS FOR OPTIMISM.

Evening Star, Issue 23724, 4 November 1940, Page 6

The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1940. REASONS FOR OPTIMISM.

Thb news that has come from the European war zones during the weekend is distinctly encouraging to British arms. In his survey of vital factors justifying his assumption that “ the road to victory is beginning to define itself ” the First Lord of the Admiralty (Air A. V. Alexander) draws attention to Great Britain’s growing air power (so spectacularly exemplified in the latest blows delivered over Germany and especially over Berlin) and makes tho important announcement that our troops have landed in Greece. Neither set of belligerents shows any inclination to minimise the importance of developments in the Alediterranean. British Empire forces have long been preparing to cope with the situation ’in that region, and, if the collapse of Franco has caused some temporary embarrassment, necessitating reconstruction of defence plans, it has also obviated the tragedy of a clash between huge armies in Northern Europe, enabling British troops to bo sent out in large numbers to reinforce the Aliddle East garrisons. Our Alediterranean Fleet has more than a mere nucleus of capital ships all eagerly awaiting a chance to test their deadly gunnery in a major conflict with the Italians, while the latest types of bombers and fighting planes are now to be found harassing tho enemy in those same waters. Thanks to Greece’s undismayed resistance to Italian aggression, made all the more confident on account of British backing, valuable new naval and air bases have been thrown open'to our • forces, enabling blows of a more frequent and direct nature to be struck at strong points of the Axis Powers.

Home now admits that a decisive result cannot be expected from the attacks on Britain and that the chief task must be “ the removal of the British from the Mediterranean.” Both Italy and Germany, it is stated, envisage a long war, which, in effect, is an acknowledgment that a blitzkrieg on the Continental pattern cannot be made to work successfully in the Middle and Near Easts. Yugoslavia, a country of redoubtable fighting men, seems to be quailing before the threat of superior mechanised forces, but Turkey’s persistent declarations of loyalty to her treaty obligations, although not yet supported by action, cannot be ignored as a hopeful sign for the future. Turkey is said to be determined to avoid war with Russia, but her attitude towards Italy is quite different. Before the struggle is over she may take a hand in settling the destiny of the Dodecanese Islands, which harbour Italian bases fringing her coastline. The Royal Navy’s inability to use Turkish ports to supplement its limited naval bases in the Eastern Mediterranean at Alexandria and Haifa has. of course, been compensated for through Greece’s plucky decision to fight back in the face of Mussolini’s onslaught and the invitation to Britain to support her guarantee. Already more has been accomplished than was evidently hoped for. At first it was expected that Britain would render aid only by use of the Navy and Air Force. The staunch resistance of tho Grecian land troops, however, probably justified in the eyes

of Whitehall the landing of British soldiers and equipment. Germany’s position is becoming more difficult every day. It was that country’s own Bismarck who once said, “ You can do anything with bayonets except sit on them.” The Nazis have been busy planting bayonets all over Europe, but the fact that they cannot make their troops sit on them indefinitely is proved by the restless thrust which Hitler deemed it necessary to make down through the Balkans. Nobody who understands the German mentality will be optimistic enough to believe that the Nazi forces will collapse before further violent struggles take place, but the cheering fact remains that Great Britain i,s becoming stronger every day in the three fighting services whoso co-operation is essential to victory. Hitler has at his disposal only two of these services, and it is inconceivable that they will prove sufficient to achieve his gross purpose. It'is no idle boast to state that perhaps by spring of next year in the northern part of the world the British Empire will be able to seize the initiative, gain specific support from the peoples of tho occupied countries, and direct the course of the war to the final triumph.