EARLIER NEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1940, Page 5

EARLIER NEWS

THE OPENING BRITISH THRUST WAY OPENED TO EXTENDED OPERATIONS. SIR A. WAVELL’S ANNOUNCEMENT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CAIRO, December 9. The British desert forces this morning struck at the, Italians on a broad front in the Sidi Barrani region. The action can be described more as a great raid than as a general offensive, though it is likely to lead to something more extensive. 1 i This latest action required considerable preparations, which were carried cut with the greatest secrecy. The troops had to cross eight miles of no-man’s-land. Supplies, including petrol, were taken up at dead of night and buried in the sand, all this being achieved without the knowledge of the Italians —al least they were not disturbed by (he preparations. "When the preparations were complete the British, attacked the camp of Mabeya, southward of Sidi. Barrani, at dawn this morning and completed the operation at 10 a.m., while other units were advancing in other parts of the same region. General Headquarters reported that it was satisfied with the early operations, and indicated that an extension of the action will depend partly on the vigour of the opposition encountered. The fighting in the Western Desert is continuing tonight and the present activity is on the largest scale of any British operations in Africa since the outbreak of the war. The operation is mainly directed against the Italians on the right flank along the top of the escarpment between 15 to 20 miles from the coast. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the Middle East. General Sir Archibald Wavell, personally gave the British, American and Turkish war correspondents the first news of the British attack less than four hours after its commencement. Leaning cross-legged against a desk with both hands in his pockets, General Wavell said: “Gentlemen, I asked you here to tell you that our forces began to carry out an engagement against the Italian armies in the Western Desert at dawn. Two hours ago I received, word that wo had captured an Italian camp.”

A. special Royal Air Force communique . says: “Working in close cooperation with the army the R.A.F. harassed enemy troops in' the Western