The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, May 20, 1941. MIDDLE EAST WAR CHANGING.

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1941, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, May 20, 1941. MIDDLE EAST WAR CHANGING.

There is at last a prospect that, the storied territory, which for more Ilian two thousand years has been something' like the line of demarcation between East, and West, will once more be involved in active warfare. The Greek campaign has opened this new prospect, thoiigli the enemy probably had it in view before that campaign hogan. Germans in considerable numbers have for some time been working in Asia Minor, some on propaganda, others in oil areas, more on roads and railways, and in Persia, known now as Iran, more than twenty thousand oT them have boon busy, nominally in commercial pursuits. The way has thus been lo some extent paved, and to the British the. recent coup of Raschid Ali in Iraq came perhaps as no surprise. Even in Turkey—in which country, however, Britain doubtless still reposes no little confidence —there has been a great deal of German penetration, and trading has been latterly extended, with the possibilitv of an increased barter agreement in due course—unless military developments upset enemy calculations. Naturally, the situation to-day is one of some anxiety for Britain, fvhosc naval and aerial position in the Eastern Mediterranean is obviously dependent upon the oil supply obtained at Haifa from the pine line running to that port a distance of fifteen hundred miles from the town of Kirkuk in Iraq. This line is entirely underground, at a depth of three feet, and is one of the engineering v’onders ol‘ the world. There is a bifurcation to the port of Tripoli in the French mandated territory of Syria. It is stated oil is still reaching Tripoli, but it is not certain if the Jraqis have not cut off the supply for Haifa, the best port in the Liwant, which, like Tel Aviv, .and so much more modern development in Palestine, has been financed entirely with Jewish money. Britain has, apart- from the protection of the. Suez Canal, and the overthrow of the‘enemy, as a special concern in this quarter of the globe two- important interests. One is, o.f course, the valuable supply of oil, and the other her financial association w’ith the Jewish race, the symbol of which is her plantation of Palestine with its members. Since almost the days of Alahomet, the Islamic people, specifically the Arabs in this area, have boon I

there predominant, the Crusades failing to overthrow them, and to-day the difficult question is what form Arabic opposition to the Jewish invasion may take in regard to a possible German invasion. The landing of German planes on Syrian dromes has given rise to a British belief that

the French may intend actively to co-operate with Germany. This is probably a. hasty conclusion. Some time’ ago, the French Government had ackn6wledged that the armistice terms allowed for German use of- Syrian ’dromes, but it is now claimed that the Germans can count, upon war material from Syria being made available in Iraq. In fact, R.A.F. bombers have hit a. Syrian train. .It is conceivable, that Marshal Petain may have his agreements exploited by the enemy, but it has to be remembered that France as a whole remains at ihe mercy of the enemy, so that in order to secure ihe return of perhaps a million Frenchmen imprisoned’ in Germany, there may be a desire not to force a rupture of negotiations before the repatriation and other concessions are implemented. This desire may possibly lead to some departure from the Armisticeterms. The question now is. however,' whether Britain shall anticipate the likelihood .of explicit French collaboration, and invade Syria so as to forestall the Germans. Few of any enemy troops can yet have been borne by air to Asia Minor, and if Syria is occupied by Britain, as well as Iraq, it is going to be a matter of incredible difficulty for the enemy either to endanger the Suez Canal or to reach the rich oil fields of Iraq and Iran. A German expedition has been exploring Syrian oil areas, and probably looking over Iran areas but that, is a long way from gaining a hold and cutting off Britain’s supply. Australian reports show that air force reinforcements are quickly being sent abroad, and it may be expected that the half million men and very strong air and naval forces at General Wavell’s disposal will be augmented immediately to the utmost possible extent. Britain, last year, indicated that if Syria became a potential danger, she would place no limits on her action to counteract it. Thus the possibility of seizure of French territory, say by the United States, is mooted, and, though the French High Commissioner, with about 40,000 troops in Syria, declares invasion will be resisted, it may quite soon be started. On the other hand, supposing the enemy did manage to gain a footing in Iraq and thereabouts, Britain will probably be counting upon Turkey’s assistance, which would suffice* to- cut off the Germans quite effectually. Indeed, it is not so far fetched a theory to say that France might be quite pleased to see Germany wasting her men, energy and resources upon a campaign outside of Europe in which the British, with then- experience of such country, will be well calculated to prevail. In North Africa the Germans are up against it, and are likely to be increasingly so in view of Britain’s virtual completion yesterday of the conquest of Abyssinia,: with the fall of Amba Alagi and I the capture of the Italian leader,] the Duke of Aosta, who has I proven one of his country s i ablest soldiers. It is not hard to guess that, the Germans regard the Asiatic front with more misgiving than do the British.