| Show Behind the War News I B By Captain John H. H C Craig Craige I. I N N. N S. S Military y Analyst The rumbling of guns in the north African desert gives notice notice notice no no- tice of the revival of war on the Egyptian front one of the truly s strategic theaters in the present war App Apparently nazi Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Rommel stank tank divisions have launched two attacks attacks attacks at at- tacks along the mile 30 fortified line stretching from the shores of the Mediterranean to the depression Reports state that American tanks and planes are going into action along with British and empire detachments to stem the axis thrusts The united nations' nations forces holding Egypt's lifeline of defense are truly a sec cross tion of the armies of democracy In Britain's Eighth army based on Cairo are to be found English and Scottish regiments famed inh in h his history i s t tor o r y y Also Indian British-Indian troops fiery New Zealanders battalions of fighting French and Polish units that managed to escape when the nazis overran overran overran over over- ran their homeland Whether the Italian German-Italian thrusts are feints by the foxy Marshal Rommel to feel out positions positions positions po po- po- po a harbinger of an all- all out nazi attack it is still too early to say but the next few days should tell Since Marshal Rommel's drive rumbled to a halt early in July after carrying him to within less than miles of Alexandria it has been a foregone conclusion that the battle would be continued continued continued contin contin- by one side or the other at atthe atthe atthe the earliest possible moment Both the nazis and the united nations armies are in positions of at once the greatest hazard and the g greatest r rea e a t e est s t promise Neither can afford to retreat without facing disaster Each knows full well that if the enemy's enemy's enemy's en en- emy's El EI defense line can be penetrated great victories victories victories victo victo- ries are likely to be won Rommel's position with a tenuous tenuous tenuous ten ten- supply line more than miles behind him stretching along a narrow strip of coast exposed to attack by sea and air is loaded with portents of disaster He has stuck his neck out a long way and he is far too intelligent a soldier to have failed to realize the fact I If united nations can crack the nazi-fascist nazi front and start Rommel's tanks rolling to the rear it is hard to see how the German and Italian forces can escape a major disaster Th would at least take the i of the nazi Africa corps for forlong forlong for long time to come Given tl breaks of fortune it might co corf eliminate German Italia power from the north Africa Afric theater M MA A break through the El A Amein Amein IT mein line by nazi forces other hand would spell for the British in Egypt and ande e a tremendous effect effected effect the war in all its global the thea Hi Once the El lin line passed the terrain of opens up in the sandy the Nile delta affording plent of room for tanks to maneuver Less than miles mUes from El EI Ala mein mem lies Alexandria might naval base from which thel li tire united nations sea war i ithe the eastern Mediterranean supported m a 11 About miles to the soutH sou soutHeast east is Cairo united nations military force and holy city of much of uhf Mohammedan world Less that thaI miles farther to the e east sti the Suez canal artery of sup sup plies for united nations forces o 0 air sea and land not Egypt but in Palestine anc Syria The canal also ls highway of support for Tur Tui Turkey key which would be isolate should Suez fall These are the stakes of war in the desert Since Rommel's Rommel's Rom Ron mels mel's forces paused exhausts nearly two months ago it is' is ifs ia a open secret that both sides h hiv hai v been pouring men and into the sector at a rapid r rOn rate On the nazi-fascist nazi sid side side constant stream of ships ships an boats of all descriptions has bee be plying the Mediterranean's tonic waters Many were sun s sun nJ How many got through is question If Huge shipments meanwhilE have reached united nation natio forces in Egypt and General s Harold Alexander has bee bei placed in command He is ene ener getic brainy and a fighter fl tE P. P will need these qualities again agair Rommel the nazi fox 1 J Statements and opinio herein are private to the WritE writ and are not to be considered reflecting the views of the nay naI na I department M ill |
