STILL FIGHTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 60, 20 December 1940, Page 5

STILL FIGHTING

“THIS MEMORABLE BATTLE.”

AUSTRALIAN CAVALRY ACTION.

CHARGED SWORD IN HAND

(United Press Association —Copyright,) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, December 19.

The battle in the Libyan desert is proceeding, and Mr Churchill in his statement was unable to give the House of Commons any later news of “this memorable battle” than that contained in the latest communiques.

The nature of these great operations with swiftly-moving mechanical columns circling in out of gaps and the posts of the enemy and fighting continually over an area as large as Yorkshire was graphically described by Mr (Churchill, who said: “I am sure the figure of 30,000 prisoners is even at the present moment a considerable underestimate. A hundred serviceable guns, 50 tanks and great quantities of valuable stores have also been gathered by our troops. “The fighting at Sidi Omar on Tuesday resulted in 800 .prisoners and a battery of artillery being captured, and on the same day there was fighting on the Jarabub oasis, west of Siwa. The oasis is a very important point on the desert flank, which is being attacked by the Australians—and it happened that an Australian cavalry squadron ohiaged sword in hand and captured both guns and transport.” * In later passages Mr Churchill said it could not be stated that the Italians had shown high fighting spirit or quality in this battle, “in which we have seen one whole division laying down its arms to a far inferior force while our forces have been contacting successfully with enemies least four or five to one.” Mr Churchill continued: ‘ ‘We must regard this event as highly satisfactory and its reaction in the enemy direction will be favourable and should permit us to take holder views than were open to us. This is the case where risks have been well run.”—British Official Wireless.