THREAT TO EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 5

THREAT TO EGYPT

ITALIAN CONCENTRATION COMPLETE ON LIBYAN FRONTIER. WEATHER HINDERS OFFENSIVE ACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, August 14. The military position on the Libyan-Egyptian front is that the Italian concentration, of about 270,000 white troops and native levies, in the Tripoli area, is now complete, says Renter’s military correspondent. Weather conditions make offensive action on a large scale unlikely for another month.

This period is not so valuable to Lieut.-General Sir Archibald Wavell as might be supposed, because he must use the Cape route for reinforcements and supplies' from Britain, though both are readily available from India, with which communicaion is not interrupted.

PATROL FIGHTING IN WESTERN DESERT & SUDAN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, August 14. A Cairo communique states: “In the Western Desert yesterday, patrol encounters, 35 miles inside Italian territory, resulted in the withdrawal of an enemy patrol. Otherwise all is quiet. ■ “In the Sudan, after a short engagement in the Gallabat area, the enemy made a hasty withdrawal behind his defences, losing one officer and 32 of other ranks. Our casualties were six.”