March. 19.
With the capture of Berbera,, capital of British Somaliland, by Imperial forces another nail has been driven into the coffin of the Ytalian Empire, and the minor reverse inflicted upon the British last summer, when they were obliged to withdraw from the colony through Berbera, has been avenged. his success was apparently gained by a combined effort of the army and navy, for the capital was taken by a landing party, after the Talian defences had been adequate-dealt with, Italy's only remaining avenues to the sea from Abyssinia are vid Asmara and Massowa, and along the French controlled railway line to Djibuti, though, as the British Navy is in control of the sea, does not appear that these avenues are of any great use to the Italians who will have to stand and fight, or surrender with~ out any opportunity of endeavouring to emulate the Allied feat at Dunkirk. 'There is every reason to believe that the task of cleaning up the situation in north-east Africa now only a' question of time, and that, when that has been done, important bodies Of Imperial troops will be' available for service in other theatres of war.
'The whole of the campaigns in Africa have clearly proved that the Italian command: entirely failed to perceive British intentions. 'Taken by surprise on the Egyptian-Libyan border the Ttalian armies collapsed with' astonishing rapidity, not only because of the fighting quality of the Italians as opposed the British and Dominion troops, but because of, stiperlor equipment and the utilization of powerful striking forces. In north-east Africa the Italians were again taken by sur~ prise. They assumed that the British would not move until after the rains, say three months hence, and the opening of so many ines of offense, numbering well over a dozen, at a time when the Italians least expected it!
rapidly freeing Abyssinia, restoring British Somaliland to Great Britain, and leading to) Tlaly's loss of the remaining part of her much vaunted empire.
If the reports that Britain has landed or landing between 100,000 and 150,000 men Greece are true the move can only have one meaning, Phot is that the situation in Africa has improved to such an extent, and that future developments there are so cer fain, that substantial forces can now be sent to meet the Germans in the Balkans. Tt also means that there are already in the eastern Mediterranean adequate supplies to maintain such an expeditionary force, and considerable confidence that the British Navy will be! able to convoy further supplies in necessary quantities as they become necessary. Hitler in the Balkans failed to move with his usual swiftness, Nothing he did there in any way helped to relieve Italy of the enormous pressure which -British forces in Africa were exerting, and the landing of substantial forces in Greece will mean that that very gallant country will receive even more assistance: than she has been having up to the present, satisfactory as that has undoubtedly proved to her.
'As the weeks pass the world is seeing the gradual passage of the initiative into British hands, From the defensive which Britain was forced to adopt after' the collapse of France, she is now changing over to the offensive, and the various British adventures which have been undertaken axe promises that the future will see an even greater display of energy. It is now that the fruits of long months of patience are being gathered. Germany has been unable to do much damage from the air to Britain's war in= dustries, That is proved by the strength and equipment which it has been possible fo send overseas. To the British effort is now added all that wealth of industrial potential of which the United States is possessed, and which is being placed so generously at the disposal of Great Britain and her Allies. The Mahan menace in Africa has practically been removed, and from a military point of view her continuance in the war can now have only a nuisance value. It will be remembered that at the end of last year it was stated that British feet were now placed upon the path to victory. Subsequent months have shown that to be the case, and the future can be looked forward to with a quiet confidence as (0 the final outcome.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.