ITALIAN STRATEGY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 245, 13 September 1940, Page 7

ITALIAN STRATEGY

TO ATTACK EGYPT.

WITH THREE FORCES

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

(British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 12. While in the past clay or two there have been Italian troop movements in the north of Libya in the neighbourhood of Capuzzo —strategy which was to be expected—no Italian troops have yet crossed the Egyptian frontier, it was stated in authoritative circles in London to-day.

It lias been suggested that the Italians are forming three armies for an attack on Egypt.

According to these "reports one is to go along the coast via Colum; the second is to operate north-west towards Wadi Haifa, on the Nile, from Kassala, east of Khartoum ; and the third along the Sudan-Egyp-tian frontier from tho neighbourhood of Taheida, which is its base.

This army, it is presumed, will attempt to travel straight across four or live hundred miles of almost waterless desei't towards Wadi Haifa to join with the Kassala army. Informed military circles here, while regarding it is quite possible that there might be raids, emphasise that reports of an attack coming from this direction with any force which could fairly be described as an army should be treated with reserve.

As far as is known there are no German formations supporting the Italian forces in Libya. A British Headquarters communique states that Khartoum was bombed yesterday, but the raids caused no damage and no casualties. All is quiet in Kenya.

The Times says the combined operations of the R.A.F. and tlie Fleet Air Arm have rendered Tobruk (Cyrenaica) utterly useless for supplying Italian troops and basing submarines and warships. 'Tlie harbour lias been cleared of crowded shipping, including five submarines, of which at least one lias been sunk.

The harbour is now littered with ships sunk or lying drunkenly on their sides. The British United Press Rome correspondent says informed circles declared that reports that an Italian offensive has begiin in Egypt cannot be denied, “but official confirmation must await a communique.”