MOVE INTO UPLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 January 1941, Page 5

MOVE INTO UPLANDS

In their advance in Libya, the Imperial forces have now entered hilly country which lends itself more favourably to defence than to attack, the 8.8. C. states. It is thought, however, that the morale of the Italians is low and that they may make poor use of the terrain in resisting the British advance.

Derna will be of considerable value to the Imperial forces as a base and on account of its adequate water supplies.

Further details of the capture of Dema, given by Reuter’s correspondent at British General Headquarters, show that there was no zero hour attack, as was the case of Tobruk and Bardin. Derna was taken by a series of minor actions spread over two or three days. Australian and British troops first captured the outposts and then mopped up the remainder of the resistance. . The strength of the garrison was believed to be about 10.000. but most of them escaped. PROGRESS IN ERITREA A Cairo communique states that in Eritrea the concentration of British forces is proceeding smoothly in spite of obstacles and physical difficulties, whirti are largely being uvorcon’O by the work of the Cape Transport Company Active patrolling continues east of Metemma and in Italian Somaliland. One effect of the Libyan victories is seen in the return to Mersa Matruh of the Egyptian governor and his subordinate officials. Mersah Matruh is now three hundred miles in rear of the advanced British forces. RAID ON SUEZ CANAL • • An enemy air raid was made on the Suez Canal area yesterday morning. Bombs were dropped but no damage was done and there were no casualties. The drive to lake Benghazi, it is slated in London, is important, because the situation in the Mediterranean has been changed by the arrival of the German air force in Italy and the infiltration into Italy of German troops. If Benghazi is captured, any threat to Egypt will bo removed once and for all. Further, it is believed that the Germans have tljeir eyes on Gibraltar, and the presence of the Luftwaffe on the Mediterranean has altered the situation in which the Royal Navy in the past has been able to take risks with impunity while it had only the Italian air force to deal with.