MORE SET-BACKS PREDICTED

Southland Times, Issue 24421, 29 April 1941, Page 5

MORE SET-BACKS PREDICTED

BRITAIN’S STRENGTH NOT YET AT PEAK guerilla warfare in THE MEANTIME (8.0.W.) RUGBY, April 27. An interesting article on the situation in the Middle East published in The Economist begins by writing off the Greek mainland and noting that in the occupation of the Greek islands the Germans have begun the investing of the Turkish citadel. It recalls that the pause in North Africa is unlikely to be prolonged and passes to the Western Mediterranean, where at any time the German thrust may swing. “It was known that the spring of 1941 would see a many-pointed offensive designed to do to Britain what was done to France last year,” states the article. “It was known too that Germany still possessed the largest and most powerful army in the world and the strongest air force operating on interior lines between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Hitler was bound to attack and his attack was bound to be menacing. There was never any ground for the belief that the Royal Air Force could now rule the air in every region. That time is still to come and it was with full knowledge of these facts that Mr Churchill and his advisers had to make their dispositions where the Germans moved. His stern assessment of the odds against which the British efforts must be made this year does not lead to any doubt as to the final outcome and also that no miracles can be expected in the immediate future.

ENEMY’S LONG START “The uncomfortable fact must be swallowed that there have been setbacks and there will be more setbacks, not because the higher strategy of the Cabinet and the services has on the balance been wrong, but because the forces at their disposal are still too weak and the reason for this goes back to the fall of France and more years still to the ineptitude of the economic preparations made for fighting. There has not been time yet since Norway and Dunkirk to catch up the enemy’s long start. The flood of American aid has still to come and it is a stark fact that it may take years to gather strength enough to stand victorious in the field.

“Until then it will be guerrilla warfare, except in defence of Britain and the Atlantic defences and despite the grievous course of events the campaign in Greece has been a guerilla operation of no small importance.”