Wirarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1941. ANOTHER STAGE IN LIBYA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1941, Page 4

Wirarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1941. ANOTHER STAGE IN LIBYA.

the most immediate view the capture of the Italian stronghold of Bardin is a great and outstanding victory. Ihe Australian troops to whom the final assault was entrusted hate done all that was expected of them and have upheld and extended most gallantly the traditions established by men ot their Commonwealth in the war of 1914-18. At the same time, as the Australians have been first to recognise, the series oi military successes which has culminated for the moment in tin* capture of Bardia. with the whole of its garrison and equipment, is tin* outcome of a cleverly planned and .skilfully combined attack by sea. land and air forces —those not only oi the 1 nited Kingdom and the overseas Empire, but of Free France. Nothing is more encouraging or of better import in the operations against the Italians, at the stage to which they have been carried, than the clear demonstration afforded that the fighting forces of the Empire are being well and ably led by commtinders who have mastered the art. of modern, mechanised war. Already great difficulties have been overcome in the matter of transport over extensive desert, spaces and in other ways and a thoroughly effective use has been made ol up-to-date equipment in achieving speedy results, while doing what is possible to minimise the losses of life that war inevitably entails. Both at. an immediate and a longer view, a groat deal evidently must depend upon the speed with which the success meantime won in rolling back the intended Italian attack on Egypt and in invading Libya can be followed up. The complete overthrow of the Italian forces in Libya obviously is an object well worth aiming at for its own .sake and on account of the extent to which it may be expected Io influence the course ol events in other parts of the Mediterranean area, and indeed in the war at large. To what extent the Italians are capable of lengthening out their resistance in Libya is meantime a matter of .conjecture, but some features of the fall of Bardia are of interest as they bear on possibilities in this direction. Obviously if it had to be taken for granted that, the Italians would make the most ol their remaining opportunities, the Imperial and Allied forces ■would be faced still by a task of considerable magnitude. It is of some importance in this connection, however, that though they gave proof of no mean quality in the manner in which they withstood for many days a tempest, of bombardment from land, sea and air. the Italian forces which were left to their fate in Bardia showed themselves in the end more than willing to surrender.

On that point reports; direct from the battlefield are conclusive. They include an account of a party of two thousand armed Italians, officers and men. who came out of a eave to surrender to a single Australian officer and a small patrol. It seems hardly likely that the remaining Italian forces now awaiting attack in Libya are of a more resolute spirit, than those who, in Bardin and in areas further east, have made it so plain that they regard further resistance as futile. It is perhaps more probable that m the immense body of upwards of 70.0(1(1 prisoners captured by the Army of the .Nile in a period of some 21 days, Marshal Graziani has lost the pick and flower of his army. In that ease the Italians may have poor prospects of making a protracted defensive stand in Libya. The position of course must be tested by events. There is no question in any case of rash adventuring by the Imperial and Allied forces in Libya. The programme pursued m> doubt, will be that of an orderly and methodical advance, with ;m organised use of small coastal ports in supplmutyiting land transport. The entire lack of initiative shown in the abandonment of the Bardia garrison to its fate, is encouraging, however. as it bears on the prospects of further action against the enemy forces in Libya and may imply an even greater weakening and disintegration of the Italian defence of that territory than is meantime apparent. Today s news shows that British preparations for an attack on Tobruk, 65 miles west of Burdia, are alreadv well advanced.