been forced to retreat is comforting, indicating that the last phase of the campaign in north-eastern Africa has been entered upon. Dessie and Amba Alagi are probably the last two points at which the Italians will put up resistance. The Due d'Aosta, who has been invited to surrender in order to protect, the Italian colonists in Abyssinia, has re-Jected the suggestion claiming that it is the Guly of the British to protect the Italians in the areas which they have captured. It is a wholly absurd contention in view of the fact! that he, with remnants of his forees, appar= ently intends to continue a resistance which can only add to the general disorder, without in any way, humanly speaking, having a chance to redeem his broken fortunes. The Emperor Haile Selassie has on his part issued {instruction to his people to deal with the Italians without brutality, and the Allies appear to have done all for them which is possible in the circumstances. Nevertheless the Abyssinians have much to forget concerning the manner in which the IHalians have {treated them in the past, and the Duc d'Aosta deliberately imperilling his own people by. the continuance of a resistance which is doomed.
The reason for this is not far to seek. The German reinforcement of the Italian troops in Cyrenaiea, and the reoccupation of that province right up to the Egyptian border have raised hopes in the breasts of the enemy that it may still be possible to invade Egypt and. secure control of the Suez Canal. The mis. sion of the Italian command in Abyssinia is to continue resistance with the hope of keep: ing as many British troops concentrated there who would otherwise go to reinforce the army in Egypt. That is not likely to succeed for long, for if the British continue the liquidation of the Ethiopian situation with the speed they have maintained all. along, the time should not be far distant when it will be possible to transfer substantial reinforcements back into Egypt. In any event every endeavour will be-made to finish off in campaign before the seasonal are now very close at hand, hamper manceuvres.
The situation in Cyrenaica appears to be that the Germans have succeeded in transporting about 90,000 men across the Mediter-Fanean. These with 50,000 Italians comprise a force of approximately 140,000 at the most with which the enemy hope to overcome the British troops and seize Egypt. There will naturally be much speculation as when they will make their attempt. The most difficult season for fighting in northern Africa is fast approaching, and it seems: probable that the Germans will seek to perfect their communications before making any move, the success 6f which depends entirely upon the rapidity and certainty with which they can move supplies from the bases to the front line. If, therefore, they decide to wait until the end of the summer ings better weather conditions, such as those which enabled General Wavell to: ac~ count so splendidly for the Italian army, it not be surprising. On the other hand, however, the great desire of Hiller to force quick decision may lead him to launch an attack much earlier. He is not likely to be concerned cither with the conditions in which hhis men will be fighting or the numbers of casualties likely to be caused thereby.
There is no reason to-regard the situation north Africa with any degree of anxiety. "Phe figures revealed concerning the strength of the British troops sent into Greece, do suggest that General. Wavell's force was unduly weakened, but-it is thought that that fault_has since been remedied, and that, should the combined enemy forees decide to make an attempt in Egypt, there are sufficient British troops at hand to render the deavour particularly unprofitable. In this connection it must be remembered that as was the ease with the British advance into Cyrenaiea, the further the enemy advance Into the desert the greater his problems of supply, and the weaker his striking force. At the same time the main line of supplies and possibly further advance are along a road directly under the fire control of the Navy the presence of which on the Egyptian coast is also another source of British strength there,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.