MORE TO COME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1941, Page 6

MORE TO COME

SIGNIFICANCE OF FALL OF BARDIA THE ADVANCE ON TOBRUK. ENEMY PROPAGANDIST EFFORTS. 'British Official Wireless.) 'Received This Day. 11.42 a.m.) RUGBY. January G. The public finds the significance of the fall of Bardia. after two ' days' attack, and the capture of 30.000 prisoners and quantities of tanks, guns, equipment and stores, enhanced by the laconic statement in today’s communique from Cairo that “While the clearing of the battlefields at Bardia is progressing. advanced elements of our forces are now approaching the Tobruk area. Il is reported from Cairo today that j on learning of the fall of Bardia. King I Farouk sent a message of congratulai lion to General Sir Archibald Wavell. . The Dominions’ Secretary t Lord iCranbourne) telegraphed the Australi ian Prime Minister as follows: "Hearf- : iest congratulations on the memorable i part played by the Australian forces ;in the victory at Bardia. By their I courage and dash they have added ! fresh lustre to their name and renderi ed an inestimable service to the com- ’ mon cause." The Axis Press and radio are now busily engaged in belittlingjhe impor- ! lance of Bardia. upon which, only a ■ few days ago. the were insisting. Its , defences once grandiloquently compari ed to the Maginot Line, now appear to [be non-existent. The only comfort ' which an Italian communique is able j to oiler the Italian people for the dcI feat, which it left discreetly indefinite. I was that “notable losses" had been inflicted on the British forces. It is understood on reliable authority that the casualties suffered by the Australian troops are about 400. As in the case of the operation at Sicii Barrani. these casualties, considered in relation to the positions gained and the prisoners and ! material taken, are most gratifyingly ■ low. ’ “THEY HAVE DONE IT” i MR. FRASER’S MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIA. 1 HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS. ! ißy Telegraph—Press Association.' WELLINGTON. This Day. > The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) today sent the following message of conI gratulation to the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr. Menzies): “The whole lof New Zealand joins with me in i warmest congratulations on the out- | standing success of the Australian j troops in the Western Desert. The '.spirit of Anzac is imperishable, and I we like to feel that this undying link i between tithe two Dominions entitles i us to share to the full the legitimate [pride of Ausralia in the remarkable ’ achievements of your men. We knew : they would do it. and they have done it.” BARDIA DEFENCES FORMIDABLE STRENGTH. GALLANT WORK DONE BY ATTACKERS. i 'Received This Day. 1.10 pm J LONDON. January G. According to authoritative circles. Marshal Graziani lias lost practically one-third of his Libyan Army, which was believed to total 250.000. The Italians outnumbered the attacking Australians in Bardia. A rew isolated strongholds are still holding out behind the mam defences. Their capture is expected to involve some further hand-to-hand fighting. The Australian casualties number,' about 400. They are not heavy, due to; ability to take cover behind rocks and j in ravines and the use of tanks. A correspondent says Bardia is inj flaming rums. The streets are strewn with rubble, rifles and munitions andi pock-marked with, shell holes. Th<J battlefield is littered with guns of alii calibres, wrecked tanks and lorries and, ■ mouldering petrol dumps, but boots ' worth a million sterling has been, cap- ' lured. The ingenuity and heroism of the engineers made it possible for the tanks to carry out their vital task. The;

Italians established an elaborate and unbroken line cd barbed wire and antitank obstacles round the entire perimeter. The engineers first cut the wire, the British artillery putting up a stiff barrage. As soon as the enemy machine-guns picked off a man, another stepped forward to take his place until the job wm done. 'Another party of engineers then took on the job o‘ building bridges for the tanks. The British added t- 1 the confusion , ■if tli'? Itali.'ii > bv tii'-kiiis; them mt<> bebevmg that the .-Ib-mr-a- h-d i-.- h ' attempted and ;-.band-.--m-d »n '.-’’-e pro- . vions day The real attack was swift and sure,' altnough some of the Australians had to cut Sixteen different barbed wire barricades before they reached Bar dia. Each fort was liberally protected with wire, which had to be cut under a devastating fire before the tort could be reduced. One Australian officer, said ne saw thirty forts surrender. A tew held out. but not for long The prisoners are mostly from f ascitf Legions. C hm- • E I fvlh- h. ’ 1 -uh . ?’ . • V' A- ■ • -- '• ’" ?i “ •• * J 1 y ! ‘ IRIPOLI BLASTED Hf Av , (JA’.lAt.l TO TOWN i HARBOUR. ■ 1'... ps -I'-, t (>•;.: I;:-; :”" AK Hr r n <Tf . j ’ Vt .: <• fa i p $ ♦(; y j .r r t

n the hinmmir Eaiyo lire- wore; : te<! ,!i ‘he p-uwer sUitsn.n .aid unir.nj; i ’.he Cir;'■ -m;i buiklmgs They .dciiliy vm'iblc' f.-t thirty m.l.«»s out at, >-.i .mti runtmiH-d burning fler ( mh thrnughut.tt the night Incfndmry and j h?gh-i ’X [" iw bomb:, buff' it! iitl i..l j ; pPm’. ()t;i< : i .mN ■’r.-ddh'd ; M'.rrrh j r,vrrtd kgynl i ?,.G.'Ui-.ir All -ir . -’vt'K* re!,.”.(i *frly ‘