1939-07-18 — Page 15

JULY 18, 1989

Paz

th A Threat To Egypt? YOU LOOK REALLY SMÅRT

enghazi

EL MECHILF SULUCH *****

Tobruch

ARID

AICA

bub.

A FRONTIER

EGYPTIAN

ACROMA

GASA CYRENAICA

TRUE

Q&MLS, 100

Sollum

Alexandria

EGYP

Cairo

Suez

Siwa

MINIEH

EGY

YAN

DESSER

L.

R

T

ASWAN

Wadi Halfa ANGLO-EGYPTIAN SUDAN

ive must be

proviso: that

master of

"LONG VIEW? OF SITUATION

It is true that the oasis of Jara- bub, opposite the Egyptian oasis of

Siwa, is strongly held by mechanised

The pity is that neither he nor the Italian army control events. The master impression one gathers after a visit to Libyn is that they are un- der orders; whether they like it or not, they are carrying out a military policy in excess of the purely defen- sive needs of Libya.

The main points for the future that my visit impressed on my mind are these, in order: Libya could easily be defended by half to two thirds of the force at present * her garrison. Her military avia- tion is already more powerful than that of Tunisia and Egypt combined, and it can more easily be reinforced from the metropolis than the air fleets of either of those two coun- tries. Similar, the army in Libya can be more readily reinforced from Italy.

Of more immediate importance than these logical principles are the signs on Libyan soil, which are: ~The amount of artillery at present in Libya exceeds the capacity of the artillery regiments in the garri- son. The construction of enormous military depots proceeds apace, par- ticularly around Tripoli, the chief and safest port of debarkation from Italy, The road system, leading to the Egyptian frontier, which runs. parallel to the great Strada Litor- anea from a point south of Acroma through Gasr el Arid, has been improved, as well as the side roads leading to it from the Litor-

anea.

NO PROMENADE TO. CAIRO

Above all stands the major strate

Camel Corps. Yet they also depend gic principle of the Italian Empire. on lorries from Tobruch (that is, If Italy were by any chance dragged Derna) for drinking water. In war into war by the Reich, they might take Siwa, but it is dif- objective must be to save the gar

her first ficult to see how they would supply rison and the Imperial glory of themselves: for the further attack, Ethiopia from destruction by land across 250 miles of waterless desert, and sea blockade and native rebel- exposed to aerial punishment,

· on lion.

Whether she liked it or not the principal fortress of Egypt, she could only *save Mersa Matruh. As for mysterious through Egypt.

Ethiopia She could only

ian campaign Kufra, if there is anything cooking reduce Egypt by direct assault on in Kufra it is for the dish, not of Marsa Matruh and by a demoralising Egypt, but of Wadi Halfa.

bombardment of Alexandria and

re--for ex-

troops in Al-

in Libya, and

future; what-of-the-beyond? I

So much for the immediate Cairo. have switched must confess

one side of

that,

The Libyan command know that on the long this course would not be comfortable. view, my brief journey in Cyrenaica There could be no week. Her has caused me anxiety. There are Cairo. Egypt's artificial defences promenade to organisation

no immediate preparations to at are not comparable with the work mple and-she

tack Egypt. There is no will among which the French have put into ag tunes on officers or men to be at war with Tunisia, nor are the men that hold as the posi- Britain (though it is a commonplace them in numbers, comparable with ay in eastern of the Italian creed that their won the French North Africa army. But ny moment.

derful aviation can scuttle the Bri- her natural defences are far more alfan Army tish Navy when the Duce calls). powerful. She can, in short, only be bops attached Marshal Balbo used, during the attacked along a narrow front, ositions. The Abyssinian war, to be considered a which is the coastal road, and which troops, pro- firebrand; his eyes, it was said, is long, "bomb-able" and waterless. ost involved sparkled at the sound of Suez. ~`If

Nor would Italy's water difficulti-

a water, are that was ever true, I do not think es begin with the frontier; they be- Brna or be that it is true to-day. 1 believe that any he; personally, is much too enthusi- miles astic about his mass colonisation to

want to fight.

ne, at 250 ntier.

HE JUST DERFUL? ER A HER TO KONE-

By George McManus

HE'S A BIG MAN- BE CAREFUL-DAD- HE MAY WARE UP AND CRY--BUT

TUL SAY HE SELDOM CRIES-

THAT'S WE

THIN

gin in her own territory over 800 miles from Mersa Matruh, east of Derns. Her supply organisation, admirable though it is would be taxed to the utmost by naval and aerial bombardment,

To sum up, then, on Libya and Egypt There are no immediate signs of preparation of an offensive against Egypt. The people on the spot do not want it. They are not their own masters. The signs, both logical and material, of an eventual attack on Egypt give more ground for care. It would be difficult, though not assuredly so disastrous Italy as an offensive on Tunisia. It could be paralysed, and the good will ahal Balbo, "never arise, if e provided for

refore,

IN A 1939-MODEL JANTZEN

Jantzen

OUR SWIM SUITS

with Lastex yarn

BATHING SUITS

for Ladies and

BATHING TRUNKS

for Men.

There are now, types and designs in this year's bathing suits for ladlés and trunks for men. Some are patterned, and the fabrics are luxuriously light and soft, prac- tically all contain Lastex yarn for perfect fit, comfort, and freedom. They are all quick-drying, and look like a lot more

money but the prices are as reasonable as ever.

COME AND GET YOURS ATS:

YEE SANG FAT

CO., LTD.

ICE CUBES

NOW AVAILABLE

THEY ARE SAFE, PURE, HARD FROZEN CRYSTAL- CLEAR AND DO NOT ONE BEVERAGES

SOFF TASTE:

IN BAGS OF 4 DOZ,

25 CEN

PER BAG.

THE DAIRY FARM ICE & COLD

STORAGE COM LTD. PORS FOOD SPECIALISTS.”

BAGGAGE TRANSFERS

27761

creat

Page 15Page 16