Sept, 14.
White at the moment the cables are vague concerning pending developments in north Alriea it is believed that, with the seasonal improvement in the weather, which is expected about this time of the year, serious fighting will soon occur. Apparently the Halians contemplate three movements, one out Lybia along the coast by way of Sollum, Where highway makes movement fairly easy, though it will be under the guns of the British Navy, the second from K~ssala northwestwards towards Wadi Haifa, and the third along the—Sudan-Egyptian frontier starting out from Taheida which is an Tt base. This latter movement is designed to elfect_ a junction with the Italicn forces operating out of Kassala, though it is believed that considering the enormous stretch, of waterless desert to be negotiated the prospects of the movement of substantial forces may be regarded as remote. Indeed interest will in all probability centre upon the first two movements, the third being likely to amount to little more than a raiding demonstration.
When this campaign starts it, will put fan end to the comparative inaction which has existed in north Africa since the end of July, when the first phase of military operations in the Western Desert was concluded. In that phase the British did well In. a communique issued on August 6 the General Headquarters, Middle East, state During this phase a small British Mobile Force of a few armoured fighting vehicles, guns and a few companies of infantry have Completely dominated the Eastern Frontier area of the Mahan colony of Libya in the face of on. Italian force greatly. superior in numbers. Since the Italians declared war on the British Empire they have lost on this front alone 818 prisoners (including a general) unasceriainable number of killed and wounded, and a quantity of arms, vehicles and material of all sorts.
These British successes have been due to the high quality and sound training, the able handling "and excellent equipment of the! famous regiments—of which our desert force Is composed—the offensive spirit and high moral of the Royal Air Force, who have at-{aeked the enemy relentlessly, and the continuous patrolling of the sea' by the Royal Navy. A further, and, perhaps, even more significant factor is the complete unanimity 'a5 to the righteousness of our cause and the absolute confidence in the outcome which inspires all ranks and contrasts so markedly with the doubt and hesitation and lack of confidence of the Italians themselves as well og amongst the unfortunate Lybians in their army.
According to Headquarters how the second phase would develop was a matter of con-lecture, but it has since transpired that the Italians planned to capture British Somaliland which they did following the British evacuation. It is the third phase which is now developing. It is known that the Halians have large forces in Lybia. They probably want every man they can get there, for the same British communique from which the above extract was taken, states As we know from evidence gained at Kassala and Moyale, the Italians require a super rity of more than ten to one before they will risk an attack on a British position." This is not the enthusiastic outpouring of a propagandist, but the opinion of soldiers, whose very first lesson is never at any time to underrate an opponent. Since it was written substantial British reinforce ments have arrived in Egypt, despite the much vaunted Italian naval supremacy in the Mediterranean, which apparently amounts to a commanding view from the safety of Italian harbours.
It is believed that the Italians have accumulated very substantial reserves in north Africa, but the fat that the British Navy is able to maintain a blockade of the coast, renders the likelihood of any great. amount of additional supplies reaching the enemy very remote, The Italians are able only to maintain a very precarious life-line with Italy itself, and their campaign will have to be conducted with what they have got on the spot. The British on the other hand are able to despatch reinforcements and supplies and will continue to be able to do so unless the Italian Navy can come out into the open and destroy the British cet. That they cannot hope to do by continuously avoiding action. 'The situation in north Africa can, therefore," be reviewed with complete confidence in' the ability the British forces to deal with whatever movements the Italians may be contemplating. As the British headquarters said in their communique of August It the attack does come it will not take us by surprise, for we have our plans ready to meet it. But whatever happens we shall not be deceived by the claims of Bari and Berlin, which doubtless will be as exaggerated and untrue as ever."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.