BY GENERAL WAVELL’S THREE WORDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1941, Page 6

BY GENERAL WAVELL’S THREE WORDS

Recording Story of Conquest in Cyrenaica REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT OF LIBYAN CAMPAIGN STRATEGIVAL VALUE OF CAPTURED BASE e • (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav 11.50 a.m.) RUGBY. Debrnary 7. Britain has been electrified by General Sir A. Wavell’s three words: Benghazi surrendered yesterday. Among tributes paid on all sides tonight the “Evening Standard’’ says: “Despite the known momentum of our attack on Libya, the Cairo message still surprises us as General Wavell has dazzled the Italians by his speed.” Possession of Benghazi means that the Italians have not only been deprived of their main base in Cyrenaica, but also that its strategical value is now at British disposal. Benghazi is a clean, modern, city of 65,000 inhabitants, of whom 20,000 are Italians, and it is the capital and seat of Government in Cyreinaica. It has a very large and well-sheltered harbour and the embarkation facilities for personnel and stores are excellent. For repair facilities, there are engineering works capable of undertaking minor repairs. An outer and an inner breakwater on the north side of the harbour enclose a port which has an area of 370 square yards. The port can be entered in any weather, but in bad weather it is not always possible to berth alongside the mole of the new poll. The new harbour can be used by large cruisers, but it is doubtful whether a battleship could be successfully moored in the harbour. By land, Benghazi is the centre of the communications of the province. From it both roads and the only railway of Cyrenaica radiate,, furthermore from its position on the coast at the east end of the Jebel El Akbar Range all the main communications between eastern and western Cyrenaica pass through it. Benghazi is provided with excellent airfields, which are situated at Benghazi itself and at Benina and there is a seaplane base. The distance of Benghazi from Sicily is about 430 miles. There are coast defence batteries defending the port. The water supply is ample and good. Beyond Benghazi to the west, a narrow belt of fertile land extends for approximately 100 miles as far as the Desert of Wyrete, which separates Cyrenaica from the habitable portions of Tripolitania. At the same time is must not be forgotten that the fall of Benghazi is only one feature of today's Cairo communique. General Wavell’s records of progress on all other African fronts include “situation developing satisfactorily about Keren, in Eritrea, which is reported to be capable of a strong defence.