TO COINCIDE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 7

TO COINCIDE

ENEMY THRUSTS ROME ANNOUNCEMENT OFFENSIVE BY ITALIANS Rec. 11.35 p.m. London, Sept. 17. It is officially announced from Rome that the Italian offensive in Egypt is timed to coincide with the German thrust against Pritain, says the correspondent of the Times on the Italian frontier. Dispatches from Addis Ababa state that Italians are advancing acrcss the Egyptian frontier at several points, throwing in regulars, Blackshirts, mechanised units and a camel corps from Libya. . The beginning of the offensive was marked by the end of the desert storms, which in recent wecks have stirred up powdery sand, rendering impossible the use of motorised vehicles, and even tanks, because of the weight of sand inliltration ' into the .engines. Italian pilots report that the British are rushing up naval units from Alexandria and other parts of the Mediterranean and have begun shelling roads leading to Alexandria, along which the Italians are reported to be fighting their way. Activity From Kenya. It is also indicated that Marshal Graziani's push to Egypt will be followed by general activity of the Italian army in Kenya and along the border of AngloEgyptian Sudan. The possibility of "expeditionary action" from the air is also reported from Rome. It is understood the Egyptian Governjnent views the situation with equanimjty, says the correspondent of the Times at Cairo. It .is generally acceptcd that the Egyptian forces have a place in the scheme of defence and that Egypt will play its part when called on. A French unit has been formed in Egypt from the followers of General de Gaulle among the troops facing the Italians. It includes professional soldiers. reservists, Foreign Legionaries and natives from Senegal. A communique issued at Cairo stated: "Although the main enemy forces appear to be consolidating their position round Sollum. strong elements of armoured fighting vehicles have been in contact with our advance troops about Buqbuq. The enemy was successfully harried by the Royal Air Forcc and artillery fire from our mobile guns. The other fronts are quiet."