GREAT FEAT OF ARMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1941, Page 5

GREAT FEAT OF ARMS

WONDERFUL RAPIDITY OF ADVANCE VALUE OF SEA POWER. I IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARMY ABLY LED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.in.) RUGBY, February 7. With the capture of Benghazi the Province of Cyrenaica may be said to be in British hands. This opinion was expressed by competent commentators this morning, who pointed out that this town was in all respects the capital of the province, as well as the chief naval and air base and recently the headquarters of Marshal Graziani. Benghazi was reached in under seven days from the fall of Derna. the Imperial troops having in the interval advanced about 170 miles. The advance over the “last lap" must have been very rapid, as on Wednesday the Imperial troops were operating in the neighbourhood of Barce. 60 or 70 miles from Benghazi. It is not yet two months since Sidi Barrani fell and the rapid campaign, it is believed, can be regarded in the future as a classic example of the supreme value of sea i power coupled with an ably led and fully equipped army. VIOLENT BATTLE REPORTED BY ITALIANS. (Received This Day. 9.15 a.m.) RUGBY, February 7. An Italian communique, although it does not specifically admit the fall of Benghazi, states that in Cyrenaica a violent battle between Italian troops and enemy forces is proceeding in the southern part of the Benghazi district. DESERT WASTE REACHED BY BRITISH TROOPS. ITALIAN POLICY OF RAPID RETIREMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY. February 7. British troops are now almost on the edge of the desert waste which acts both as a guard for Tripoli and protection against any advance from Tripoli, either of which operations must be undertaken only over a single coastal road. Military commentators state It is unlikely that any great number of prisoners has been captured at Benghazi, as the Italian command seems to have abandoned its practice of occupying fortified positions and waiting to be made prisoner, in favour of a policy of a very rapid retreat.