While the Admiralty in_a communique admits some damage to H.MSs. Southampton, light cruiser, and Mlustrious, aircraft carrier, together with a destroyer, the Germans endeavour to twist this into an admission of heavy naval losses. They have got to tell their people something to allay ther unrest which is definitely manifesting itself in the Axis countries, despite every effort to sup~ press news concerning it. But there is something more than usually interesting in_ the engagement between units of H.M. Navy and enemy alreratt. The fact is that two convoys were being taken through the Mediterranean, one. (0 Greece and the other {0 Alexandria, and. that they did arrive at their destinations regardless of the Malo-German attempt to interfere with them, thereby throwing an interesting light on the situation in the Mediterranean, This, together with the fact that the British Navy able to support the Allied advance along the coast of north Afviea with a minimum of interference from the enemy clearly proves British command of that sea, while at the same time it indicates that German schemes have once again gone astray.
Originally Hitle's plans towards the end of November involved simultaneous move~ ments through the Balkans and. against Gibraltar, in combination with an Ttalian naval offensive. Spain, which isin a deplorable economic condition as a result of the civil war, failed to yidd to Hitler's temptations, arid, instead, concluded a finan -cial and trade agreement with Great Britain, chiefly because had it failed to do so it ight have been impossible to maintain civ order, The destruction which the: British air arm and the Fleet have been able to do to the Italian Navy is such as to keep it quiet for some time to come, while. transport diMeulties inthe Balkans make a: major German operation. there a very hazardous undertaking. The railroads and waterways are definitely not equal to the task, while there is an almost complete lack of adequate military highways. Even if there were suffi-lent the cost of oil in making use of them would be enormous.
With British baees in Crete and other Greek islands they are in a position to take over the Dodecanese Islands whenever they wish; they are in fact already neutralized so far as the Italians are concerned. The process of cutting oft Italian supplies for Libya has been under way for some time past, and though Hitler is now coming to the assistance of Italy with the German air force it is doubtful whether he can do so to any very great extent without slackening his blows against Britain. In the-eyes of some neutral observers the battle of the Mediter~ ranean has already been won by Britain, but the more cautious view will not wholly accept that, though Britain looks in a fair way {o arriving at that result.
Mx. Dufl Cooper's broadcast "concerning the friendlier feeling for Britain in France suggests a reagan why German pressure upon Marshal Petain has somewhat relaxed, General Weygand in North Africa is in a Gofinitely strategic position, for with his prestige, which is tremendous, Blarshal Petain is strengthened. in his resistance to German demands. Should he be obliged to yield, and General Weygand comes into the war on Britain's side the position of the Hallans in Libya, already most precarious, wellld become untenable, It is apparent, therefore, that the Axis Powers can draw little satisfaction from the situation in the 'Mediterranean, and the dispositions which Hitler is making of his forces in the Balkans are believed to be designed for the purpose of making the best out of a very bad business, The Italians, who clearly have never had' any real stomach for this war, are proving a source of weakness rather than strength to him, and he can place but little hope for any real help from them. It would not, however, be wise to view the position the Mediterranean with too much com placency. Much may have to be done before Britain and her Allies can claim complete victory, but the magnification of British admissions by the German propagandists can with confidence be accepted measure of their anxiety over recent developments.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.