1940-11-28 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 28, 1940.

Page

CHINA MAIL The

The Battle

Battle Of Africa

WINDSOR HOUSE

ARMY AIR ARM

We must take a big view of west. If there were successful, then be surrounded on three sides]

*

Under the energetic leadership this war. As Mr. Churchill told the Italians would then threaten by enemy territory, Tanganyika, of General Smuts we can rely the House of Commons, no one Egypt from the south down the to the south of Kenya, is a form-upon it that the Union Govern- can predict how far it will spread, valley of the Nile

er German territory, whose Germent would not only resist these or how long it wil' last.

One certainty, however, is that plans for an Invasion; of Africa cooperate by organising a rebel- provide Great Britain with a base This estimate of probable enemy man settlers would be expected to treacherous overtures but would the desperate ambition of our en- already much exceeds the pro- lion which might bring the enemy from which out forces could bar cmies now aims at the conquest portions of the expected-battle in advance down to the Equator. not of countries but of a contin- ent. We should do well to con mendous importance of the Bat- tle of Africa which is about to

egin..

sider in its widest; aspect the tre-

picture in our

By

G. Ward Price

Announcement of the formation of the Army Cooperation Command of the R.A.F, will gratify all who have given serious study to the new ways of war. This may be a long conflict. It will quite surely be an even harder one before we have done tsh force, composed of contin the Western. Desert upon which with Hitler.

gents from As every Empire, confronting, in the West-centrated.

many parts of the four attention has so far been con- month passes military ern Desert, a strong and power- Let us, for a moment, look still leaders must strive to fully equipped Italian army now farther afield and hazard a guess

engaged in establishing an place themselves in the vanced base of operations a few aims of those two megalomaniacs. ad-as to what may be the ultimate vanguard of their art. score miles inside the Egyptian Having on a map at least Away with the old. Search out the new.

mind has been limited to a. Ari-

Hitherto, the

frontier.

One flank of this British force rests on the sea, where it has the Navy; its other wing consists of a effective support of the Royal chain of outposts beyond which lies the barren emptiness of the

great African Desert.

All this, however, is no more

than the mid-point of the scene upon which far-flung and formid- able operations against us may be \pected during the coming win-

It is clear that the attack úpon ypt will not be delivered by

The German trouncing of Poland and France was partly the result of the sure cooperation which they established between the air force and the army. Soldiers and air- men were part of one force. The 'planes were fleeter cavalry and flying artil-General Graziani's army advan- lery too. Together the two arms achieved much more than they could have done in loose collaboration. Have we yet learnt this the shore of the Black Sea, where lesson and improved upon a German naval base is to be con- it for our own designs? There can be no mistaking the The answer is "Not yet," significance of these initial mea- They are the beginnings but the beginnings have sures. now been made.

cing from Libya alone,

Hardly had Hitler returned from the meeting on the Brenner than German troops were thrust. through Hungary Into Rumanía, and we heard, of plans for mili- tary roads across that country, to

structed.

'.

of a great German movement upon Egypt from the north. This is. intended to confront the forces in

The delay has been which we have accumulated strange for as in so many the Near East for the defence of cases the use of such co- those pincerlike

Egypt and Palestine with one or

offensives that

Waiting Game:

any further enemy advance. Sp long as the British Navy controls. the seas, the advantage In South whelmingly on our side. African warfare, would be over-

His Final Act These are the German dreams, and, however fantastic they may be, it is well to take serious ac- This advantage might, indeed, count of them, for many of Hit-be challenged by enemy naval ac Ier's carlier visions, have been tivities based on West Africa, of the fact that no one took them lonies are entirely surrounded by converted into realities by reason where the British West Coast Co- seriously in time.

French territory.

invasion of the African Contin

The final stage of the Fuehrer's ent would doubtless be

Should the battle of Africa

promises to the Union of panied by flattering offers

accom-reach the proportions which Hit- and ler and Mussolint contemplate, South Germany and Italy may be ex- subdued Egypt and the Sudan, tach that Dominion from the Ein- vast territories of France on that Africa. Hitler would hope to C2-pected to seize the whole of the they may further visualise the in-pire by false pledges to respect its continent, and they would, use the vasion of Kenya, which would independence.

ports upon their sea-board to ob struct our seaward communica

Good

Training Camp Breaks Up

tions Hope.

with the Cape of

The dangers described above are fortunately at present no more than speculative, and imaginary. Solid grounds exist, however, for the belief that Africa is the next territory in which the Nazi Fuchrer hopes to win drama- tic victories for the

pur÷ pose of encouraging, his own people and discouraging ours.

Material Gain

Nor is prestige the only prize offered by that continent.

After America, Africa is the most pro |ductive area on the surface of the

globe.

Egypt, the first country in which the Germans aim at setting foot, of produces 380,000 tons a year the best cotton in the world; be- sides other valuable agricultural crops.

The farther south the

enemy could push his conquests; the greater would be his gains in operation has long been are the favourite strategy of the

those tropical products which are appreciated in Britain. We German General Staff-but on a

of such vital importance to. Ger- have only failed to exploit any other war.

scale without precedent in this or

many, and of which our · nayal blockade largely deprives her. it to the full. Some years

The training.camps of Singapore on their stomachs seeking cover. ago, after

Could he succeed in penetrating much argu-

volunteers and Depot recruits during field manoeuvres with to the south of the continent, vast ment, a Fleet Air Arm

(men called up under the Com-just as much keenness as brokers resources of copper and other The Italian army based on pulsory Service Ordinance) broke and importers. was formed. It has done Libya is evidently but one ele- up on Saturday, 2nd November,

minerals, together with one-third ment of the right wing of the com- 'and more than 200 men stationeu |

Although the whole found some of the world's output of gold, great work in this war. ing attack on Africa. If its com- in various parts of the Island difficulty at the beginning in would be the booty at which his More largely developed it mander, Graziani, has seemed in-packed their kitbags and returned bowing to that great feature of greedy, hand might grasp.

There are yet other reasons could do much more."

active since he crossed the Egypt home after one month's intensive the British Army, discipline, their ian frontier over a month ago training..

response to this aspect of their why a great campaign in ́Africa A convoy needs protec-it is doubtless because he is wait-

training demonstrated their quick may appeal to Hitler, -as 'it does It would be true to say, with appreciation of its value.

to his ally Mussolini. The Fuchrer tion. The Admiraltying for the development of the

of this second

has failed in his direct attack on cffensive on the left wing, which the conclusion

The men themselves - guards it from attack be- has been begun by the recent ad- the Local Forces (Training) Or- from the regular instructors who

apart Britain. training period prescribed under neath the seas. The Air vance of German troops across

The most favourable moments the Balkans towards the Black dinance, that Singapore possesses took such a "sergeantly" interest

deserve Ministry guards it from Sea.

a Volunteer Force which knows, in their welfare

a for invasion has passed away. attack from the skies. Is This German advance, which more to-day about the rudiments share in the credit for their me- His bombing raids on this coun

try have been hurled back, and of warfare in Malaya than it has tamorphosis. there not some danger in Italian thrust across Greece

duplicated by an

over done,

They took an intelligent inter-their effect upon the warlike such divided responsibil- Salonica, can go no farther with The emphasis during the train- est in learning their jobs, adapted spirit of the British nation has

quickly to their been to rouse it further. out coming up against the north- periods laid on the im- themselves ity? Is the 'plane, in fact, ern tulwark of the British posi-portance is was hunised units in strange mode of life for which While still keeping these islands not performing the same tion in the Near East our sturdy modern warfare and all-round they, "cheerfully" accepted $7.42 under perpetual menace, he may

defence, and the lessons were at the weekly pay parade and have determined task as the destroyer?ally Turkey.

In defence of the Integrity of illustrated. with tales of the ex- displayed initiative, resource and cheaper, victories elsewhere. And does not the pilot who their own territory we

schemes may be periences of famous regiments in ingenuity in tactical

against the "enemy."

In conducting, such an offensive performs this service re- sure that the Turks would fight the recent Battle for France.

on African soil, the geographical well. They will be a formidable

Illustrative of the ingenuity position of Germany and Italy quire training in seaman-obstacle in Hitler's path.

With the final salute they gave displayed was the effort of Private gives them a definite advantage. ship as well as aeronau- If Hitler should succeed, how- yesterday, volunteers and Depot I.M. Nick, who was formerly in They would benefit by what tics? An enlarged Fleet ever, whether by force or by guile, recruits looked back half grimly the Russian Army.

strategists call "interior lines." in sidetracking Turkish opposi and half humorously to the pro-

In charge of a reconnaissance | For the first time the Axis Powers Air Army, with bases on tion to the eastward march of cess which made them, fit fighting

them a sound patrol, he discarded his uniform would be at the centre.

of the he men, which gave German and Italian forces shore, as well as at sea, would find in the former French elementary and practical know-for the clothes of, "Chinese war. would greatly reduce the mandated territory of Syria a ledge of battle manoeuvres, which squatter. Wearing a large straw While maintaining air attacks

was to be

to

to seek for

chance of recrimination base for operations against Egypt introduced them to backbreaking hat and carrying a bundle of fires

which is already being prepared pick and shovel work on trench wood, he penetrated the forward and the constant threat of inva- between departments, and by the presence of an Italian, mil- which put uem through intensi by another platoont and saunter-flank of his position Hitler can lines and gun emplacements, and lines of the enemy (represented slon against this country: on one would place responsibility itary commission there.

ed nonchalantly ** fled weapon: training,

funk through their operate.upon his other for all operations at sea bo called on to give free passage At the same time, Spain, may

area unrecognised by anybody, against Africa.. It was a toughening up pro- to return with fairly complete in squarely where it belongs to German troops to attack Gi cossas tough as it sounds which formation about their numbers. In doing so he would still be

on the Admiralty." braltar in the hope of cutting off forged the men into a fit fighting positions, and activities.

close to fils bose, while our lines British naval support through the force,

Thus the rough edges were of communication in opposing.htm The same argument ap- Mediterranean, a

pared from these civilian soldiers would stratch round the Cape of plies with equal force to The converging attack against One small contingent demon-Humorous incidents, relieved the Good Hope, t

Egypt from the north and west strated in tactical exercises which strenuousness of the exercises, cons

One infantryman still laughing- That, on the broadest scale, is without an air force is not attacks upon the Sudan from of camp, that the raw material

the background, of the plans

ern desert of: Libya from

the Army: A modern army would synchronise with Italian, were carried out in the last week an army at all. The War Abyssinia, and across the south-, of four months ago can now take ly relates an experience on night which Hitler and Mussolini. may

the an efficient place in the line with, manoeuvres when he found him well have formed for the coming· · Office, of course, has' al-

the British regular troops in self entangled in barbed wire un-

able to advance or withdraw, and winter, which is the most favour- Singapore. ways received assistance

resigned himself to a long wait able season for n' North African from the Air Ministry, but which the commander on proportion of the men had never could, without giving away, any-

Four or five months ago a large before the exercise, ended and he offensive.ne

They would have many disad- that is a far different land can understand. He handled a service rifle on under thing to the enemy, yell for help. vantages of climate and commu- thing from having an air requires something more ments of soldiering. Since then walt long, for à patrol came by timating the maximum effort of Fortunately ho did not have to nications to overcome, but in es- force under its own direct than skill in piloting an a transformation has been ae and heard his plaintive "Will which one's adversaries are cap- orders. The man who flles aeroplane. He needs to complished.

someone unloosen me, please?".. able it is wise to concede them Oddly enough, the breaking of conditions more favourable than an aeroplane to aid land know what the soldier. There was a motley crowd In

training, Managing Directors mar camp found many regretting have they are likely

meet in- praç- forces must be half a scout would look for. And ched shoulder to shoulder with ing to go back to the "old office" tice. soldier. He must know that calls for Army as clerks, Malayan Civil Service and learning to think all over what to look for in terms well as Air Force training. Government department, crawled a pretence.

Omcera from practically every again but perhaps this was only Within the next few weeks the 1370 great Battle of Africa may begin,

رسم

gone any training, in the rudi-