Success In Western Desert

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21836, 13 December 1940, Page 6

Success In Western Desert

MR CHURCHILL’S statement to the House of Commons made it clear that the preliminary phase of the offensive in the Western Desert had been successful. He made a point, however, of indicating that “it is too soon to attempt to forecast either the scope or the result of the considerable operations which are in progress.” Official comment is inevitably cautious; but it is worth noting that warnings against too much optimism also came from war correspondents in Cairo. The correspondent of The Times described the Italians in the Sidi Barrani area as “a formidable force strongly dug in.” Another correspondent emphasised the enemy’s preparedness and his “vast system of redoubts.” It is the completeness of their preparations which would seem to indicate that the Italians in Egypt are much more dangerous than the forces now retreating in Albania. The invasion of Greece was planned without the approval, and apparently with only the half-hearted co-operation, of the Italian General Staff. But a war of movement in Africa has been one of Mussolini's pet theories for years, and a large army specially trained in desert warfare had been assembled in Libya months before Il Duce entered the struggle. The advance to Sidi Barrani met with no serious opposition; but it was carried out in a way which showed that Marshal Graziani and his staff had planned the campaign carefully. For many weeks the Italians have had the opportunity to strengthen their defences. They have all the advantages that can be conferred by numbers and defensive positions.

Nevertheless they cannot be said to be engaged at present in the war of movement visualised by Mussolini. The initiative has been taken by British forces which include mechanised columns that have already proved their fighting efficiency in desert combats, and which are now being aided by squadrons of aircraft and the Royal Navy. This form of attack by mobile forces might be even more successful in the desert, where the strongest fortifications must be of a temporary nature, than it proved to be against the concrete walls and emplacements of France. Already it has been reported that armoured units smashed their way through the Italian lines and reached the coast, thus driving a wedge between the advanced troops and their reinforcements, and the success of this move undoubtedly paved the way for the capture of Sidi Barrani, reported this morning. The success of future operations will no doubt depend on the strength of the armoured columns which can be thrown into the struggle, and on the maintenance of air power. However, enough has been done to show that the attacking forces have made a great beginning.