GRAZIANI’S FALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1941, Page 5

GRAZIANI’S FALL

NOT YET CONFIRMED i — BUT THOUGHT NOT UNLIKELY. SUPPOSED SUCCESSOR. (British Official Wireless.) 'Received This Day. 10.3 a.m.) RUGBY, January 28. Confirmation of the report that Marshal Graziani has been dismiss- . ed is lacking, but in view of the many recent changes among senior I officers of the Italian fighting ser- | vices, including Marshal Badoglio. ■ two general, one admiral and one ' vice-admiral, some credence is given to the report. The heavy defeats suffered by Marshal Graziani's army in North Africa have made a deep impression in Rome, where his blunt despatch, after the fall lof Sidi Barrani, attributing his reverses to shortcomings in supplies from Italy, is believed here to have brought him into further disgrace. Reports state that Marshal Graziani will be succeeded by General Bardi, but in London nothing is known of such an officer and it is thought that General Mario Berti. who fought in the Spanish campaign, is intended. ANOTHER ANKARA REPORT (Received This Day. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, January 28. The Ankara radio announced that Marshal Graziani has been relieved of his command, but there is no confirmation in London. I 1 CAIRO REPORT ACTIVITY ON VARIOUS FRONTS. (Received This Day. 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY. January 28. A Cairo headquarters communique states: "While operations in the Agor-dat-Barentu area in Libya are progressing satisfactorily British mobile troops continued to press the Italian forces which are retreating from Ummhagar. A further one hundred prisoners have been captured, making a total of over 1200 to date. "East of Metemma and in Abyssinia the situation remains unchanged. ■’British patrols have again been active in Italian Somaliland."