HURRICANE ADVANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 58, 18 December 1940, Page 6

HURRICANE ADVANCE.

VIOLENT FIGHTING AT BARDIA.

RESISTANCE BECOMING STRONGER.

(United Press Association —Copyright,.;

(Received This Day, 1.15 p.flW LONDON, December 17. Violent fighting is raging around Bardia, which the British mechanised forces are attacking. Advanced forces of infantry are following up the mechanised units, which apparently have carried out a bold encircling movement. Overcoming a resistance that is daily becoming fiercer, the Imperial Army of the Nile continues its hurricane advance toward the key points of Bardia, Tobruk and Derna* Some reports suggest that a British armoured column is already operating westward of Baidia, thus implying that it has outflanked the enemy, but it is not certain whether the communications between Bardia and JCpbruk have been wholly severed. These advances are constantly subjected to Italian divebombing attacks. The capture of three forts of Sidi Omar, Shefferzen and Musaid has given the British a commanding position on the escarpment. The forts form a semicircle. Sidi Omar is 21 miles southwest of Sbllum, Shefferzen is six miles south of Sidi Omar Musaid is between Fort Capuzzo and Solium. The forts are bdfieved to be possessed of heavy defences, from which it is assumed that considerable material has been captured. “The Times” correspondent says: “One of our armoured brigades has already reached the road from Bardia to Tobruk. It attacked the Italians, destroying eight tanks. From a point near Bugbug, the R.A.F. gaye Bardia a terrific hammering for over two hours.”

This cannot have failed to help break the spirit of the garrison, which is believed to comprise the shattered remnants of General Berti’s 10th Army, and also some Blackshirts. There are other troops in Libya—two Army Corps on paper—but it is not likely that they will be able to hurry to the assistance of Bardia owing to the shortage of transport oil.