The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, December 13, 1940. ON THE SANDS OF THE DESERT.

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1940, Page 6

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, December 13, 1940. ON THE SANDS OF THE DESERT.

In the light of modern North African military history, the successful, start of an offensive by British forces on this occasion is not so very surprising. Before Kitchener there made his name British soldiershad been familiar with conditions, whereas the Italians, apart from one great defeat in Ethiopia and their recent success there, have nothing to show in the way of active campaigning. The capture of Sidi Barrani is auspicious. It reverses the run of ‘operations on the southern Mediterranean littoral in as spectacular a way as Ihe Greek advance has done upon ‘die opposite shores. It is easy to judge that the crisis of the war has already come for Italy, and that .Mussolini’s dream of an

Italian lake is in the process of being; shattered. With the aid of the British Navy and Air force -the offensive against Italy on two fronts seems destined t° continue until resistance is entirely overcome. That is certainly (he impression which the British reports on operations clearly convey. On the desert sands the

Dominion troops should now be.' as much at home as any others, < •and they have besides the tradition of the Anzacs who became quite familiar with such terrain in the last war. While casualties are to be expected, the advance towards Libya so far appears to' have been of a character with mobility as the essential factor, rather than pitched battles, although the latest reports say lone engagements at fixed points, particularly enemy encampments, are proceeding. Yet there does n°t appear to have been any very definite lino on either side, and there is the possibility that any, detachment or unit might find it-1 self cut off at any time. This has evidently happened with the native soldiers who formed the Italian advanced forces, as the prisoners are stated to be almost entirely Libyans. If the British penetrate Libya, as seems to be indicated, they will, however, be nearer the enemy’s main bases, and much will then depend upon the ability of the Navy and Royal Air Force in interrupting the sea transport of supplies from Italy. If they should be cut off, it is not difficult to foresee Mussolini deprived entirely of his “empire” in the not distant future, as he may also be deprived of his other external possession across the Adriatic. The forces of Genera] De Gaulle are bobbing up in most unexpected places, they being re--1 presented in the present desert push, while the Far East now discloses a Consulate at Singapore, not to mention the Siamese, report that planes are ably cooperating in the Thailand operations against the French colony of Indo China. Incidentally the Australian Government has put in a spoke by having the French Consul-General at Sydney deprived of recognition, since he is not a supporter of General De Gaulle. The declaration of Gen•eral Weygand, now in French Africa, that there is only one France, does not apply meantime anywhere else in the French colonial empire, except perhaps in the West Indies and Syria, where it may eventually lose its force also. In fact, the enemy cause nowhere now prospers except where the struggle is the most vital of all, and even there it is not making headway. Britain is still subjected to severe bombing, and the German blockade is growing more intense, but it is in evident desperation that the enemy is operating, and Hitler’s latest speech is taken as a reflection of that fact’. The British shipping position is probably less strained than has been indicated. because a far greater proportion of the tonnage is obviously involved in the Mediterranean campaign at the present time than before, and even than had’ been anticipated when Italy was not offering so easy a mark as she is now. No doubt the desert offensive, which, it is the British commanders were left a free hand in launching, is nevertheless co-ordinated with the whole Mediterranean scheme, and is designed as a stroke while the iron is hot. It is being described as Britain’s first definite victory in the war, but it may well prove to be the forerunner of more.