Britain’s Offensive FRUIT OF SEA POWER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 7

Britain’s Offensive FRUIT OF SEA POWER

Great Britain has launched her first great military offensive in this war. Her shrewd and sudden blow against the Italian forces in the western desert is well timed, and the reported capture of more than 1000 prisoners indicates that the opening phase has met with a large measure of success. The British offensive comes at a time when the Italian armies in Albania are suffering reverse after reverse under the great. Greek counter-offensive, which has followed the enemy’s treacherous and unprovoked attack of barely six weeks ago. The numerous resignations of military and naval officers of Italy’s High Command are further confirmation of the unhappy situation in which she finds herself today.

Britain’s Sea Power Again The dramatic change in the naval and military situation in the Mediterranean affords yet another striking example of the silent working of Sea Power. When Italy made her back-door entry into the war after the colossal military disaster that brought the collapse of France in its train, there were many who spoke of Great Britain as a beleaguered island fortress. She had saved the greater part of her Expeditionary Force, hut she was faced with the imminent threat of a German inin no fit state to undertake any military campaign in the Middle East. All her energies had to be turned to the task of re-equipping her armies, getting her war production going at full pressure and beating off the tremendous German air offensive that was to have been the prelude to invasion. That Britain has accomplished this immense task all the world knows. It is undeniable that the full exercise of her Sea Power has enabled Great Britain to accomplish great things during the last six months. She evacuated British Somaliland, and during the first half of September her forces withdrew from Solium in face of the Italian advance from the Libyan frontier. Italy began to threaten Greece and the senior partner of the Axis was browbeating Rumania into submission to her designs in the Balkans. Attempts were being made in Berlin and Komo to convince unhappy Spain that her hour was at hand. Americans were openly saying that only (he British Navy stood between them and Hitler. Change In Middle East But while Great Britain was successfully lighting off the stupendous onslaughts of the German air force, her Sea Power was working a great change in the situation. Despite the worst the enemy could do a never-ending stream of ships from all parts of the world was pouring materials and supplies of all kinds into Britain’s ports and her workers were rising to a crescendo of effort. ' At the same time Britain was greatly augmenting her naval strength in the Mediterranean. The fleet made sweep after sweep through that inland sea without interference from the Italians who refused action time after time, not always escaping loss. Italian battleships were damaged, a cruiser and several destroyers were sunk, and many submarines destroyed. The Italian air force was worsted in numerous encounters while the K.A.F. struck blow after blow at enemy bases. Great Convoys Of Ships During the last three or four months Britain’s sea power has enabled her to retrieve the situation in the Mediterranean, of which she is tlie unchallenged mistress. Under the cover of the naval sweeps through that sea and the protection of powerful escorts, great convoys of troop transports and -uppl.v ships have been pouring reinforcements and equipment into Egypt, and more recently, into Greece. Some of the greatest convoys ever noved across the seas have gone out 'rom Britain to 'the Middle East during he last three months. Some have travelled directly through the Mediterranean and more have circumnavigated Africa via the Cape of Good Hope. Some of the convoys have been the fastest ever moved. There have been, too. convoys of troops from Australia md New Zealand. These great fleets >f merchant vessels turned to military uses, have included all kinds of ships from modern tramps to the greatest and finest liners in the world. Among hem have been liners well known in he New Zealand trade.

Italian Sea Communications The enemy has been powerless to prevent these convoys from crossing the seas and redressing the balance of military power in the Middle East, where in recent weeks the balance of naval power has been decisively altered in favour of Great Britain. The Italian Fleet, heavily reduced in strength, has left its main base at Taranto aud taken station in Sardinia, thus leaving Italy’s sea communications to Libya and Albania wide open to interruption by British attacks by sea and air. The continual heavy bomb--1 ing of Tripoli indicates that the enemy has abandoned Tobruk and the nearer ports on the Libyan coast in favour of the more westerly base. The early reports of tlie British attack at Sidi Barrani indicate that the British armies are receiving the full support and co-operation of the Navy and the R.A.F. In this region the land falls steeply to the Mediterranean, till the centre of the Gulf of Solium is reached. Eastward this line of cliff diverges from the shore, so that there is a high plateau which gradually merges into the Taref mountains overlooking a wide coast belt. Graziani’s Lost Chance Since the British withdrawal from Solum in September the Italians doubtless have considerably strengthened their positions; but they are wide open to a triple offensive by land, air and sea. The main advance must be carried out along the coast belt, and the situation of the Italian left flank must always create a certain anxiety | in the mind of Marshal Graziani. That he has been content to sit j tight at Sidi Barrani for three months, j well knowing that the British were rapidly building up their offensive strength, suggests that the Italian of- ! fensive spirit is no greater today than ! it was in the last war. ! At the time of Verdun in 15)10, it | was said that “nothing was as trying i to Joffre’s temper as the anxious dej mauds of Cadorna (Italy’s commanderi in-chief) that the Russians should at- '! tack before they were ready in order ! to relieve Italy from an imminent Austrian offensive. As Cadorna was in a great numerical superiority this demand seemed at French Headquarters to he an excessive example of (hat sacred selfishness which the Italians had candidly announced as their motto.” Marshal Graziani seems to have remembered that motto. (S.D.W.)