1940-12-06 — Page 65

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 6, 1940.

Military Strategy In Greek War; Two Possibilities British

(By Reuter's Military Commentator) Trawlers

THE GREEK CAMPAIGN has already

given a very hard blow to the Axis and Musso-

lini in particular. The results, however, have Lost

not yet been decided.

These results may be infinitely far-reaching, and decisive results can only be attained if the cam- paign is carried on with the utmost vigour.

.that

Everything depends on that word vigour is to say, the strategy of campaign must largely be decided by the character of the commander-in-chief.

Main decision-before him seems to be whether or not to pursue a cautious policy of not pressing forward to the sea and of giving up the idea of destroying the Italian army in Albania..

Object of such a policy would be to establish a good line of communication behind him and

• avoid counter-attack from the Italiana.

་ ་

for him to send into Albania fresh forces to readjust the balance in his favour, for his only port would be Santa Giovanni de Medici, in the northern corner of Albania.

Then, with a fairly short front resting on Lake Okhrida, in the east, and on the sea, in the west, the Greeks would be in a much better position to meet, any even- tualities which might arise.

Such a policy may be theoreti- cally safer than a dash advance | Reuter. but is it in practice?

The Italians would be given time to recover and would have time to bring fresh reinforcements from Italy.

Issue For Greeks? Would the position of the Greek Army then be so safe?

recovered

In addition to the morale of the Italians time would have been given to Hitler to act and bring overwhelming numbers against it.

There are many instances of armies which have rushed for-

ward, out-marched their sup-

defeated them.

such a defeat on the Greeks.

LESSONS OF NAZI AIR

SAVAGERY

plies and encountered fresh Lessons learned from forces of the enemy which then the raids on Southamp- In 1920 the Turks inflicted just ton, Coventry, Birming-

ham, Bristol and else where are being worked out and will be sent to every region in the coun- try.

But a successful war is not made by blindly following rules and copying previous campaigns without regard to divergent cir- cumstances.

Many Examples

There are, if one seeks them, The Home Secretary and Min- many examples of immense gains ister of Home Security, Mr. Her- which have been obtained from abert Morrison, gave this assurance pursuit pushed forward relent during a speech at Southampton lessly and with the utmost vigour yesterday in which he also paid -decisive points scized and hos- tribute to the splendid fight put tile armies scattered and destroy-up by the Civil Defence Service ed; and there are also examples and the magnificent spirit of the of crushing victories, the full civil population under the city's fruits of which were lost because recent ordeal. the victor had not pushed the "Grievous as the sufferings of pursuit with relentless energy. Southampton and other heavily In the first category, Napoleon's bombed towns have been," said pursult of the Prussians, after the Mr. Morrison, "we are trying to Battle of Jena is a classic exam- extract from them whatever ad- ple.

vantage we can.

In a few weeks after the battle the -French were in Berlin and Prussia had fallen."

In the present war we have seen the tremendous consequences of relentless pursuit, giving the enemy no-lime to recover or use fresh bases in the German pur- suit of the French even as far as Bordeaux.

Second Category

It may be some consolation to people in bombed cities to know that every time this ordeal is Inflicted the next 'occasion' will be a little more difficult and our own work in countering the at- tack a little more effective.".. After expressing grateful appre- ciation of the effective help, ren- dered by the Army in coping with some recent problems arising from bombing Mr. Morrison closed with a tribute to the extraordinary ya lour of the Greek nation whose example "gives use a timely re- minder that courage, brains and inflexible determination `can up- set the calculations of a bully as unexpectedly and thoroughly David with his sling overthrew Many factors in the present the clanking champion of --the situation in Albania would urge Philistines."British Wireless,

In the second category, Welling ton lost many

fruits of his two greatest victories at Salamanca and Vittoria, by. failing to pursue with sufficient energy."

In both cases the French ro- covered and resumed the offen- sive.

a vigorous pursuit.

Though lines of communication are difficult and railways" con-" spicuous only by their absence, a rush to decisive points should not put undue strain on transport.

Naval Aid

MOBILE CANTEENS

as

A sum of £1500 has been re- mitted by cable on behalf of this Colony towards the purchase of Mobile Canteens.

Ships of the Greek and British navies should be able to give most effective assistance to an attack on Valona and Durazzo as soon as the Greek-land-forces are within striking distance. These vehicles are greatly need-

If the Greek command can capture these parts the results

- wiff ba:almost, decisive, as a

Four British trawlers and one drifter were re- cently lost through dam- age sustained by mine- sweeping.

An official Admiralty, communi1 alluded to the fact that the Ger que issued in London yesterday man High Command lay con- tinual stress upon the mining of British ports.

These ports and their ap- proaches, stated the communique, are kept clear of mines from day to day by the tenacity and cour- age of British mine-sweeping forces.

The enemy la using all man-- ner of devices to prevent or hinder the sweeping of these mines.

Although the success of these devices has been limited and is likely to decrease, they impose losses like the above mentioned upon our sweeping forces.

The trawlers lost are the Ethel Taylor, Amethyst, Elk and Col- verton, and the drifter, the Christ- mag Rose,

There are no casualties in Amethyst and Elk. Reuter.

ed to carry food and comforts toir the bombed areas to serve the homeless and desolate, the anti-

as the war in Albania la con- | aircraft defences, and, various ser- cornodig

A great portion of the Italian army, would be destroyed; being forced to surrender or die. Few could escape to the north,

vices engaged in rescue, work, | The B.W.OF. appeals to the generous public of Hong Kong for donations. Amounts so sub- scribed should kindly be sent to the Hon. Treasurer, B.W.O.E4c/da The Hong Kong & Shanghal Banking Corpn., with instructions. Despite Mussolini's boasts if to car-mork such monies for the should" be practically apassblo | purchasor of “Mobile, Oantsens":{}

Il Duce's Boasts.

SEE AND TRY THE

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