TOBRUK DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 6

TOBRUK DEFENCES

LESS STRONG THAN THOSE OE BARDIA SHORT SUPPLY OF WATER LIKELY THE PROBLEM OF PRISONERS OF WAR. ißy Telegraph—Press Assodntion—Copyright• (Received This Day. 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, January 8. There seems little doubt that Tobruk is now practically cut off from the west by the British advance forces, which have made it almost impossible for the Italians either to enter or leave the town. This view is expressed in military circles in London, which point out that while small patrols might qet out it would be impossible for the garrison to leave without fighting. The entry of big reinforcements would likewise be impossible. Discussing the defences of Tobruk, the "Daily Mail’s" correspondent in the Western Desert says they are a long way weaker than Baixlia's, The Tobruk defences consist of two linos, twenty miles deep, The garriwn is believed to be smaller than that of Bardia and the artillery and defensive equipment corrgsixtndingly weaker. It >s doubtful whether Tobruk can provide sufficient water for n large garrison for a long period. There has never been much water between Bardia and Benghazi. The situation with respect to prisoners of war in the Western Desert is providing General Sir A. Wavel! and his stall with a problem almost as dilficult tn solve as those of actual military strategy. The huge number of prisoners has evoked the gag: ■ What’s Libya’s principal export? 4 ’ The answer is "Italians.' 1 TAKEN in desert BLACK SHIRT GENERAL. WITH NUMBER OF STAFF OFFICERS. (Received This Day. 12.23 p.m.) LONDON. January li. General Antonelli, commander of the First Black Shin Division, was captured north of Bardin, with a number of high staff officers of the TwentyThird Corps. It is believed that General Antonelli is one of the Black Shirt commanders who deserted their troops