The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, MONDAY, DEC. 16, 1940. THE ITALIAN DEBACLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20431, 16 December 1940, Page 6

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, MONDAY, DEC. 16, 1940. THE ITALIAN DEBACLE

In less than a week the Italians have been driven out of Egypt and back into their own territory. The elaborate preparations which they had been making and perfecting over a period of three months have been set at nought almost overnight. Worse than that, from the Italian point of view, they have suffered enormous losses of men and munitions and what little prestige the Greeks had left them has now evaporated in the mists of the desert. It is no longer necessary to attach any reservations to the jubilation at the Allied victory or to counsel caution in the appraisement of its results and possible consequences. Even if nothing further is achieved in this zone, the troops engaged have scored a remarkable triumph and one which may have incalculable repercussions on the whole trend of the war. Instead of Egypt being menaced, as seemed likely a few months ago, with the resulting danger to the Suez Canal and the possibility of a general Axis advance into Africa, the tables have been turned as effectively as at any time in history. Egypt, Suez, and Africa have been rendered safe by one smashing blow and to-day it is the Italian possessions in Africa that are threatened. Whether advantage will be taken of the complete disorganisation of the Italians to press the attack into Libya remains to be seen, but in any case the first objective of the Allied forces has already been achieved.

There is little need to attempt to analyse the operations of the past week. The fact that they have been so outstandingly successful is all that really matters. It is clear, however, that the offensive had been planned with the utmost skill and carried out with the greatest courage and determination. That it was possible for a numerically weaker force to achieve such a notable victory is a happy augury for whatever future operations may be attempted in this sphere. There is cause for satisfaction, too, in the knowledge that this was essentially an Allied offensive. The army and the air force, and presumably the navy as well, included representatives from all of the Dominions, India, the Mother Country, and Free France. While the forces of Britain continue successfully to defend the heart of the Empire against German attacks, men from all over the Empire have launched the first real Allied offensive. Simultaneously with the advance across the desert to Libya, the Italians have been attacked and harassed on other African fronts by British, Dominions, and

Free French forces. It is impossible to foresee the outcome of their wide spread activities, but it may be taken for granted that so long ns the slightest opportunity occurs the attack will be pressed home and it may not even be beyond the bounds of possibility that the Italians will finally be driven out of Africa altogether. In the meantime, the Greeks, to whom attach the primary honours for having exposed the weakness of the Italians, continue their victorious advance through Albania. Even now it is doubtful whether the value of the Greeks' stand in the interests of the Allies is fully appreciated or whether they have been given the full credit for their truly magnificent achievement. Out-numbered and confronted by an enemy which had spent many months in making preparations for the attack, they have risen to almost supreme heights of gallantry and daring. Their own country has been effectively cleared of the enemy and the Italians still continue their retreat through Albania towards the Adriatic. Thus the Greeks have not only secured their own independence but they hold out every prospect of regaining that of the Albanians as well. In the early days of the campaign it had never been thought possible that the Greeks could maintain the pressure as they have. After all, Italy, on paper at any rate, is not a negligible military Power and there was every reason to expect that they could establish new lines and at least prevent the Greeks from further advances. Now, however, their retreat is little short of a rout. Line after line has been broken and stronghold after stronghold captured until to-day there seems to be every chance that they will be driven right back across the Adriatic.

The question inevitably presents itself as to the possible Italian reactions to these successive and decisive defeats on all fronts. Their navy has been discredited, their air force has been proved obsolete in comparison with even second-rate British machines, and their army has been ingloriousiy routed in the theatres where it was supposed to be best prepared. These developments cannot long be concealed from the people of Italy—in fact, the Italian radio for the past two or three days has been preparing the public for ill news—and this opens up at least a possibility of reactions against the leaders who have been responsible for what has proved to be such a disastrous policy. Unless the situation can in some way be retrieved, and there is nothing whatever to encourage such a belief, then it may well be that Italy’s active part in the war will end suddenly and disastrously. The defection of Italy, if it comes—and, of course, it should be counted on—cannot be without effect on the senior partner in the Axis. Germany has been at such pains to sing the praises of her ally that it will experience a good deal of difficulty in explaining her collapse and it is inevitable that the Axis as a I whole will suffer loss of prestige as well as of material strength. The war may still have a long course to run, but it does not seem to be unduly optimistic to suggest that its end has been brought appreciably nearer by the events of the past few weeks.