COMMENT IN BRITAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 11 November 1942, Page 5

COMMENT IN BRITAIN

REOPENING OF MERITERRANEAN FORECAST POSSIBLE ROUTES AGAINST GERMANY London, Nov. 9. The reopening of the Mediterranean is confidently forecast as a result of the defeat of Rommel and American landings at Oran and Algiers, with the ensuing prospect of establishing Allied power along the entire North African coast from which to confront across a comparatively narrow sea all the southern shores of occupied Europe, offering many possible routes against Germany. The reopening of the Mediterranean, in addition to saving the long haul round Capetown, will release much more tonnage for other duties—taking more supplies to Russia and reinforcing the Allies in the Far East, while the Axis will be forced to establish a long defensive front covering most of the Mediterranean southern littoral.

Air power will be very important in opening the Mediterranean, providing an air umbrella for convoys. It is estimated that between Casablanca and Tripoli there are 30 military and civil aerodromes with not more than 150 miles between them. This would bring the Allies within fighter range of Sicily and Sardinia which at present are centres of the heaviest German air striking power. Possession of air bases along the entire North African coast would result in greater air mastery for the Allies than the Axis has so far possessed and at a time when the Luftwaffe is stretched to its limit.

American occupation of French North Africa will have important reactions for Vichy. North Africa’s greatest value to Vichy has been food. Vichy could always find relief from Nazi threats of starvation by supplies from North Africa. “The Times” points out that Admiral Darlan admitted in March, 1941, that 75 ships passed weekly between France and Algeria or Tunis. In addition many French factories have been built in North Africa and the mining of iron ore, coal and lignite has been extended while the colonies served intermittently as a channel for supplies from America. The new developments will cause further complications for Vichy.

“The Times” expresses the opinion that there is every reason to expect that the new campaign will develop rapidly, that Hitler’s powers may be taxed after the necessity of providing defences in South Europe, especially during the winter, which he has usually used for recuperation. It is generally considered that the Allied main objective is the occupation of Bizerta in Tunisia, which is a very fine Mediterranean harbour, only 90 miles from Sicily.