The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1941. AXIS BALKAN DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20527, 10 April 1941, Page 6

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1941. AXIS BALKAN DRIVE

To-day’s news'of the fighting on the various Balkans fronts is not good news. It may not, however, he as bad as it appears on the surface and it would be as well to suspend judgment until the situation generally is clarified and it is possible lo view it in clearer perspective. The present indications are that the Germans, following tactics which they have adopted with such success in other spheres, have launched a determined offensive at various points on the long Greek and Yugoslav fronts. The extent and the effectiveness of their preparations in Rumania and Bulgaria is now becoming apparent and it is clear, also, that they have aggregated vast forces in these areas. Thus, once again they have the initial advantage of advance preparation and have made the most of the momentum gained by taking the offensive. Obviously, this has carried them further than had been expected, but it has yet to be shown whether the pressure can be maintained or whether the Allies, once they establish their linos, will be able lo hold them and, perhaps, even launch a counter-attack. To speculate at this stage as lo the possibilities would be futile, but something can be gained by reviewing the situation witli a view to obtaining a better understanding of the prospects and the likely effects of the campaign. In the first place, it is apparent that the German attack lias been planned with nil the usual thoroughness and strategy. It is now being carried out with determination, efficiency. and. above all, complete ruthlessncss. The High Command spares no thought for the fate of its own troops and less still, if that were possible, for the innocent people who stand in the way. Already, the German army lias paid dearly for the ground it has taken and, on the other side, Belgrade has been converted into another Warsaw. Because Belgrade has become another Warsaw, however, does not necessarily mean that Yugoslavia will become another Poland. Nor, because the Germans have made initial gains, does it follow automatically that they will sweep through the Balkans as they swept through Scandinavia

and the Lowlands. These things are possibilities, nevertheless, and as such

must be considered. Even if the Germans should be completely successful in this theatre —and it is still a big if —the fact will still remain that, however much prestige they may gain and however great the psychological value, they will be no nearer defeating the real enemy, Great Britain. More than that, the mere fact that the Axis has been compelled to operate in the Balkans is an admission of the failure to bring Britain to her knees.

In the meantime, the Balkans are a long way from being conquered. The capture of Salonika is admittedly serious, chiefly because it has driven a wedge right through northern Greece, but it is by no means fatal. Nor, for that matter, are any of the other gains. What appears to have happened is that the Germans have used blitzkrcig tactics wherever they could be used and have used them successfully. This means that they have scored successes wherever their mechanised columns could penetrate—in the main, only where they were expected to advance. The questions that have yet to be answered are whether their main forces will be able to follow up and consolidate the tank successes and whether it will be possible to dislodge the Greeks and Yugoslavs from the hills where most of the fighting is likely to take place. The set-backs that have been experienced might be calculated to discourage even the most stubborn fighters, but there is already evidence that the Greeks will not surrender and there is no reason to believe that the Serbs will be any less tenacious and courageous. It has to be remembered, too, that, so far it is only the front lines of the defenders that have been affected. The forces in the rear, strongly supported by the Imperial army, may well turn the tide of battle. This seems to be another instance where time is on the side of the Allies. The Germans obviously are aiming at a quick success but if this is not achieved they are likely to be at an ever-increasing disadvantage. For this reason the next few weeks, or even days, may be vital in the Balkans campaign. If the Germans arc able to drive through lower Yugoslavia and link up with the Italians in Albania and to consolidate their hold around Salonika the Greeks will be in a serious predicament and Yugoslavia will have far less reason to continue to resist. On the other hand, if the Serbs can succeed in their drive against the Italians and further German advances into Greece can be checked the whole outlook will be far more promising. While most of the news from the Balkans goes to the debit side, there is an offset in the reports from Africa. The capture of Massawa means that the last resistance in that area has broken down and that the Red Sea is completely under Allied control. The importance of the Axis drive in Libya has yet to be demonstrated, but in any case it will be minimised by the Allied ascendency in the Mediterranean. At the moment the whole situation in the Middle East is in the melting pot and even though it may not be encouraging there is certainly no need for despair.