MEANING OF BARDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1941, Page 6

MEANING OF BARDIA

ITALIAN INVADING ARMY WIPED GUI VAIN AND CRIMINAL SACRIFICE. AIUSSO LI N I S WANI NG PRESTIGE. (Bi ill' Il fjdiellll Will'll J (Received 'lllis ixv, 11.5 a.m.) j RUGBY. January j Discussing the news contained in the latest Cairo communique, military commentators point out that available information does not State t’:r’: Bar.lia has “fallen.” The .«x ailum portion of the area it ’till l.olding out. The capture of at least 15.0C0 prisoners. added to those already accounted for. does mean, however, that Marshal Graziani's army destined for the invasion of Egypt no longer exists, it has disappeared in less than a month. Turning to the strategic importance of Bardia. commentators point out that it is a small port and of less capacity than Solium, but. taken together, these two ports should materially assist the problem of supplying the British forces by affording facilities for seaborne traffic.’At present all supplies for the front have to be taken by lorry. It is further pointed out that when the Bardia area is cleared, the nearest Italian port will be Tobruk, about seventy miles away, a distance from which it is not easy to launch counter-attacks. In addition. Italy has lost a base from which an attack on the Empire might have been made and her loss of prestige is bound to be considerable. Commentators recall that Libya was declared "part of the national territory of Italy" by decree in January, 1939. They also draw attention to persistent stories all of which state that Marshal Graziani wanted to evacuate Bardia some time ago. and would have done so but for orders from the Duce. Military experts point out that if this is true the retention of men m a position m which they were faced with either capture or death, and which it was not intended to make any real attempt to relieve constitutes what can only be regarded by any soldier us a crime. Military circles accord a full measure (-I praise to the Italian troops for the gallantry they have shown when' they knew they were being sacrificed in a vain endeavour to raise up Mussolini s waning prestige. While the Rome radio has admitted that Italy is going through a bad time, the 8.8. C. states a German broadcast to Turkey said the British Fleet in the Mediterranean was in great difticulties owing to the increasing pressure of the Italian Fleet. Turkey replied in a curt broadcast from Ankara, that Italy has lost not only the Mediterranean but the Adriatic. headmaster at war MAJOR-GENERAL MACKAY. COMMANDER OF AUSTRALIAN DIVISION tllrit. h OftkUl Wirel.-?? > (Received Thia Day. 11.35 ’ RUGBY J. nu-.i;. 5 Major-General Mackay v.mmt.mlvt of (he division of Audi ahais •, part id which undertook the op<‘rat.<»tr; resulting 111 the surri-ndi-1 ->f t'lhOll lt.iK i.nh is> the Parch.• area. i- headmaster of Cnmb.Hik School. Syihw.-. MajorGeneral Mackay i, • ■mm.mdt d '.hr ' mrth bat tai imi <>- .Xu;.* nt batt infantry I‘Hti-IH. and 'hr Fir? b.f. j: - glide from the ini>!fiF • f >9l!'. NOT VP TO DATE LATEST ITALIAN COMMUNIQUE. SAYS FIGHTING CONTINUES at BARDIA < R«-< i-iv<-d This Day. 12-U> pm LONDON JaiuKir? Au Italian rommu?i,'iu<- ’• h--battle On the ILirdui front <-»r»l>isurd with ir.crr.t -inp vmler.-c :vl • • - da v unu i ■ :t u 1 .>t - : : s