ROAD TO TOBRUK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1941, Page 5

ROAD TO TOBRUK

PATROLLED SINCE CHRISTMAS DAY CAPTURED GUNS USED AGAINST BARDIA. DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT. <'Dy Telegraph-—Press A^wiatton—Copyright! LONDON. January 1. From the Western Desert Reuter reports that British units have been patrolling for two days more than 70 miles inside Libya. The secondary road running along the coast to Tobruk has been patrolled since the evening of Christmas Day. British armoured cars sjxmt the day reconnoitring Tobruk, also an airfield to the south of the port. The aerodrome was found to be empty. Those patrols had skirmishes with Italian units, which lied in surprise at discovering British troops so far west.

Italian big guns captured in the fighting are now being used in Die bombardment of Bardia. A British patrol made a daring raid inside the perimeter of the Bardia defences and captured prisoners.

Four Italian aircraft were brought' down over the Western Desert yesterday and one over Italian Somaliland. There were no British losses.

IN POOR PLIGHT GRAZIANI’S ARMY. LONDON. December 31. An Army spokesman said that the greater part of Marshal Graziani's army in Libya is now either captured, killed or immobilised. Today's communique from the Cairo general headquarters on the operations in Africa slates: “In Bardia the Italian garrison, which is being harassed by our artillery fire, continues passively to await events. On the frontiers of Sudan and Kenya our patrols have again been active."