DRIVE CONTINUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1940, Page 5

DRIVE CONTINUES

ITALIANS MAKING DIFFICULT RETREAT INTO LIBYA Under Sustained British Pursuit in Dust Storm HERCULEAN TASK OF MOPPING UP BATTLEFIELD PUNISHING ATTACKS ON BARDIA BY AIR AND SEA <> i A heavy .dust storm is raging- in the Western Desert, a 8.8. C. broadcast states, where British forces continue to push the Italian army across the Libyan frontier. Fighting has been continuous during the past week and went on all Saturday night. Meanwhile British troops are engaged in the Herculean task of mopping up the battle zone—an area of some 1,200 ' square miles—on which great quantities of guns, ammunition, and military equipment of every kind are scattered. The Italian dead are lying where they fell, with the dust of the desert drifting over them. Meanwhile the advanced troops are ceaselessly hammering the retreating enemy army. The passage to the rear of large numbers of Italian prisoners is being watched with delight by the Egyptians. One aged . worthy was heard to ask: “Is Mussolini there?” v The reply was: “No, but he soon will be.” The Nazi Press is now assuring its readers that the situation in Greece and Egypt gives no grounds for anxiety and asking whether it is likely that Germany would leave Italy to be worn down. It is well enough realised in London, a 8.8. C. commentator observed, that Germany cannot afford to leave "Italy in the lurch and that the only thing delaying Hitler from going to Italy’s assistance is the difficulty of doing so without involving the Axis as a whole in even more disastrous difficulties. Declaring that there is no cause for anxiety, the German Press is stating alternatively that if there is cause for anxiety, Germany will put it right. Finally it is stated that if things are going wrong in the Western Desert this will not matter, as the Western Desert is of no importance. The Rome radio, which on Saturday admitted that the situation was serious, was more optimistic yesterday. It states that if Britain advances into Libya this will be a great mistake, because when Italy eventually overruns Egypt, Britain will not be able to say that she has conducted a strategic retreat according to plan. In London it has aroused some interest that the Italian retreat from Egypt with a loss of some 30,000 prisoners and vast quantities of material is all part of an elaborate propaganda campaign. It is officially stated that every Italian landing ground and aerodrome in Libya has been heavily attacked by bombers. ■' At Bardia, the Italian supply base, the British planes ignored fifty Italian fighters which were patrolling the area and went straight through to attack the town, causing heavy damage. Barracks and warehouses were demolished and large fires were started, which were followed by explosions? Fires were still burning from previous raids. At least 23 Italian planes were shot down or destroyed on the ground and a number of : other aircraft damaged. Three British machines failed to return, one bomber, one fighter and one reconnaissance plane, but it is probable .that at least one is safe on the British side of the lines. A message from the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet states that naval forces continue their operations along the coast between Sidi Barrani and Bardia. The latter place was successfully bombarded. An Italian air attack was driven off and an Italian submarine which attempted to interfere with these operations was immediately sunk by destroyers.