DESERT BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 6

DESERT BATTLE

MORE ABOUT BRITISH CAPTURES PRISONERS SEEM NUMBED AND BEWILDERED. IGNORANT OF EVENTS IN GREECE. ißy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.10 pan.) LONDON, December 13. The British have captured all the food and oil the Italians had accumulated for the invasion of Egypt, reports a war correspondent in the Western Desert. Five Italian divisions have been chased from strongly fortified positions. Hurricane fighter pilots carried out 67 attacks behind the Italian lines during three days. They reported that they saw large fires raging in Solium, and a long column of motorised troops hurrying across Libya to Tobruk. The advance headquarters of the Italian 10th Army was seen moving from Bardia toward Tobruk. Most of the Italian prisoners appear to be- numbed and bewildered. A majority were completely ignorant of events in Greece. Military circles say it is difficult to estimate the exact strength of the Italian divisions, which are extremely flexible. A Libyan division consists usually of 7000 to 8000 men, a Black Shirt division 10,000-to 11,000 and a metropolitan division 13 000 to 14,000. There may be an additional 3000 to 4000 corps troops with each division in a big army. The five captured Italian generals have been conveyed to Cairo by air. The capture of General Sebastiano yesterday means that Italy’s two generals commanding the forces in Egypt have been eliminated. New Zealanders, Australians. South Africans and Canadians are participating in the Royal Air Force’s desert blitz. It is authoritatively stated that information received leads, to a belief that rebel activity in Italian East Africa, including Abyssinia, is increasing. TERRIBLE ATTACK ' ITALIAN PAPER TAKES } COMFORT SAYS BRITAIN FEELS ITALIAN SWORD. (Received This Day 12.10 p.m.) ROME, December 13. “11 Mesagero” says: “The fight in North Africa may continue and assume a most terrible aspect but whatever happens England is condemned to lose the war. London has set herself madly upon Rome with all her strength because Italy blocked the way to India, via Suez and obliged Britain to maintain in the Mediterranean considerable forces which otherwise would be used for the defence of the British Isles. The attack on North Africa is the best proof that England feels the Italian sword with a mortal thrust.”