LIBYA AT WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24327, 18 June 1940, Page 8

LIBYA AT WAR

ITALY’S AFRICAN COLONY “ ROMAN WALL” ON FRONTIER MANY LANDING FIELDS With New Zealand troops now in an active theatre of war as Italy masses her colonial forces to strike at he British Empire, perhaps through Egypt, the importance of Libya looms large in the strategies of the Allies. Already the Royal Air Force has struck swift and deadly blows at Italy’s air power in this vast North African colony. Italy has, over a long period of years, expended prodigious energy in the development of Libya. Forts, flying fields, and petrol pumps almost inevitably strike the traveller as its oredominant characteristics. It was in September, 1911, that Italy invaded Tripoli, then in Turkish oossession, and drove out the Turkish .nd Arab forces. Italian authority was established in this section the following year, but domination of the entire country was, however, far from complete for many years. In 1922 the Italians were forced to come to terms with the Senussi of the interior and allow the Senussi Emir to rule Jarabub and Kufra. Then, in 1931, they overcame the Senussi *gnd occupied Kufra themselves . Barren Territory Whether or not Italy has derived any great benefits from the possession of this rather barren tract o* territory is a moot point, but she seems determined to colonise it, and for many years has been putting into practice the most grandiose plans of mass settlement. Two years ago 1900 families, comprising about 20,000 people, sailed from Italy simultaneously in order to take up residence on the small holdings that had been prepared for them by the Black Shirt pioneers. When they arrived at their new homes they found them fully ready for occupation. and even the larders were well stocked. The initiator of the scheme was Marshal Italo Balbo, Libya’s energetic Governor, whose task in recent years has been the strengthening of the colony’s defences, particularly along the border facing Tunis. He has also supervised the building of the great strategic road that runs right along the coast from the Tunisian boundary to the Egyptian boundary Since 1938 the four provinces of Libya—Tripoli, Miserati, Berghasi and O erna _have been included in the national territory of Italy by decrees of the Fascist Grand Council Mechanised Forces During the Abyssinian war Italy greatly increased the strength of her forces in Libya and assembled over 30,000 men, mostly mechanised, near

the Egyptian frontier. Italy hrd already, in 1932, constructed a barbed wire fence along 200 miles of the northern part of the Italo-Egyptian frontier.

“ During several cruises down Libya’s untempting seaboard,” wrote Major Leonard Hardley in an English publication, "I have been struck primarily by the heroic energy with which Italy occupies the arid hinterland. The maritime zone is the only one which encourages any form of western colonisation. Beyond lie the ■ subdesert and the desert zones, leading by little-travelled caravan tracks over limitless miles of desolation, which are quite impracticable for Western habitation. The Mediterranean zone contains some of the most fertile oases in North Africa—rich with date nalms orange and olive groves.” Of the frontier defences Major Hardley wrote: “A great battlement, like the Roman Wall, serpentined across the distant mountains, protected from theoretical savage incursion from an emptv desert by a forest of barbed wire. An occasional blockhouse interrupted this continual belt of wire. Libya ‘watches a comparatively unpeopled desert with normally a corps of colonial troops numbering 500 officers. 700 non-commis-sioned officers and 10,000 men One could not help contrasting the apparently casual military occupation of the Indian north-west frontier with a mere skeleton of troops, a handful of kassadars and a complete absence of Roman Wall.” Desert Barrier If Egypt were attacked from Libya the invaders would have to cross 500 miles of desert The desert is Egypt s strongest defence. Therefore the danger is from the air. and since war broke out last year extensive air raid shelters have been built in the cities and A.R.P training has been earned out. In Alexandria ancient Roman aqueducts, many feet underground are bein'* used as shelters. Egypt, with her efficient army and heavy concentration of Allied troops, is ready for any thrust that may be made from Libya.