THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1940 ITALY'S REVERSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23838, 13 December 1940, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1940 ITALY'S REVERSES

The military ventures of Mussolini continue to go awry, not merely for reasons inherent in Italian campaigning but mainly because of the skilful and resolute opposition this encounters. On both sides of the eastern Mediterranean he suffers heavy reverses. Although not decisive, for the limit of Italian strength and strategy has by no means been reached, these reverses indicate a definite loss of the offensive. In Albania the Greek advance, after capturing main objectives in the northward movement, is as virile as ever. Weather conditions are increasingly bad, and strong Italian fortifications are not far ahead ; so, while consolidation of gains goes on, the next stage of the endeavour to drive the enemy from Albanian soil must wait for the completion of preparatory work. The excellent service of the Royal Air Force does more than supplement the Greek heroism along the coast and oil the heights ; it has hampered the Italian efforts to convey supplies and establish rallying positions, and is a factor of great importance. Wherever there j is a Greek halt it serves the plans for later progress. To be noted also is the co-operation of many patriot ; Albanians against the harassed in- ! vaders, and the reported prospect |of an early surrender of the 11a 1 - i ians in the Dodecanese, where they : are beleaguered by British naval : activity, adds another vivid touch | to a picture in which Mussolini can ! take little pleasure. By now, no doubt, he is dismally familiar with the sequence of failures attending his confident attack upon Greece, yet their exasperating repetition is ! not his worst misfortune : far across ! his "mare nostrum," the sea that j Hitler and he have hoped to make J an Axis lake, his kindred design on Egypt and Suez seems as likely to come to grief. Sidi Barrani, with a large number of prisoners, including three generals, has been captured by the British. Its strategic occupation was an integral part of Graziani's attempt to get command of Egypt, and to have lost it so ignominiously is a very evil omen for Italy. Its loss is not fatal. Graziani is too capable a soldier to be nonplussed by its fall. In his months of development of his plans he has established many a strong position in the Western Desert, and can be expected to carry on with undiminished vigour. But this also must be said: every ' due word used in praise of his skill | and determination, every acknowledgment of his foresight in occupying Sidi Barrani, must add distincj tion to this feat, conceived and ! carried out with remarkable enterI prise and sagacity. Along with ati tendant successes, in which troops jof Free France gallantly partici- | pated, it will he remembered as a j signal victory in this war. It adds immensely to the prestige of the opponents of the Axis Powers, and by the same token will further reduce that of Mussolini, lie has reason now, after this blow, to fear that just as his assault on Greece threatens to cost him the loss of Albania so his thrust at Egypt may entail the loss of Libya and the shattering of his dream of a great African realm. About this it is too soon to prophesy, but nothing can hide the sorry bruise on Italy's 1 scutcheon. What will follow this undoubted taking of the offensive on that front should soon be seen. One thing is already certain: it will greatly encourage adjacent peoples—Egyptians, Turks, Arabs, for instancein their growing resolve to become fully pledged and active opponents of the Axis Powers. They will appreciate the risks run in the assault on Sidi Barrani—the long trek in the desert, the astute evasion of even aerial discovery, the dashing attack in the face of heavily armed and garrisoned protection—and will applaud the feat accordingly. The gallant stand of Greece has already evoked such a response. This will now be greatly increased in depth and confidence. And these peopleseof the Near and Middle East will not miss the meaning of the British War Cabinet's confidence in its commanders in that region— General Sir Archibald Wavell, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, and Air Commodore Raymond Collishaw. Bearing high responsibility, show- j ing splendid initiative and achieving j great successes, leaders so trusted j will inspire a widening allegiance to the cause of their courageous nation.