OPERATIONS IN AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 October 1940, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN AFRICA

NAZIS MAY BE TAKING CHARGE MISTRUST OF ITALIAN PROWESS. PRESENT POSITION IN EGYPT & ELSEWHERE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, October 2. There is no confirmation of reports of German troop movements to North Africa across Italy, but they may well be true. Even if the Italians are in nominal charge of the North African operations, there is little doubt that their German masters, distrusting Fascist military prowess, are issuing commands to Mussolini and also taking de lacto charge of the operations. It is authoritatively stated in London that Italian troops ate concentrated at points in the region of the Sudan frontier. The most important concentration is at Kassala. The Italians on the Kenya front are still in the neighbourhood of Buna. Enemy patrols are active there, also in the neighbourhood of Lake Rudolf. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Cairo correspondent says that Britain’s repulse of the German air attack has caused a striking change in Egyptian views on the war. Whereas previously the Egyptians asked, “Will England be able to withstand Germany’s great air attack?” they now ask, “Can Germany withstand the British onslaught?” Opinion is growing in favour of an Egyptian declaration of war against Italy. There is very little active warfare in Africa at the moment. According to reports reaching London, the Italians in the Western Desert are consolidating their positions, which stretch from Sidi Barrani southward across the coastal plain. In this area they are building strong defensive camps which will undoubtedly be used as advance bases if they continue their attacks toward Egypt proper. Italian forces have been showing some activity at a point on the Libyan frontier about 150 miles south of Solium. There is a road from this point to an oasis about 60 miles inside Egyptian territory from which it might be possible for a small force to make its way to Mersa Matruh or even Alexandria. The going is bad, and the maintenance of a mechanised force would be difficult if not impossible. It is revealed that South African troops have been holding to Turkana front for several weeks. The main purpose on this front is the protection of the desert routes into Uganda and Kenya and also the safeguarding of the Turkana tribesmen from raids by Italian regulars. South Africa has provided not only infantry but all auxiliary services, including transDort over a distance of nearly 500 miles. There are rumours both in Rome and Berlin that. Hitler and Mussolini arc to meet today at the Brenner Pass, the E.B.C. reports.