BATTLE AWAITED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 7

BATTLE AWAITED

BRITISH DESERT ARMY WELL-DEFENDED POSITIONS SLOW ITALIAN ADVANCE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 1. (Received Oct. 2, at 0.30 a.m.) According to a correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, who travelled 300 miles by road from Alexandria to the defence line in the Western Desert, the British Army is patiently waiting to do battle with the Italian forces. “ Just one hour’s drive from here,” he writes, “ across the savage, broken plain, Mussolini has piled up a store of arms ready to break on Egypt. Masses of Italian army vehicles are gathered in the Sidi Barrani sector. Red-cloaked Bedouin tribesmen are leading their flocks and little groups of timid wives deep into the desert for safety. Here and there a camel has blundered on a land mine and its carcass lies rotting in the sun.

“ The gunnery of the Italians is good, a British brigadier told me. They use artillery very quickly and soundly, and also handle their motor cycles and sidecars effectively. A mass of them ride about 3000 yards ahead of an advancing column and disperse among rocks when they arc confronted by opposition and await their supports, but the whole Italian advance has been slow, simple and laboured, averaging only about five miles a day.”

The correspondent states that dug-outs have been increased and deepened. The defenders have become immune from attack from the air, but not from the rats which infest the trenches.

“ Feverish work is proceeding on the construction of roads west of Sidi Barrani, but ouir bombers are constantly harassing the roadmen,” he adds.

The correspondent revisited the British advanced position, which had been closed to visitors for some months. He noted the extensive improvements to the defences, rendering them almost impregnable. He also saw unmistakable evidences of the strengthening of the whole of the Egyptian defences during his 200-mile journey across the desert.