LARGE QUANTITIES OF BOOTY TAKEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 296, 13 December 1940, Page 7

LARGE QUANTITIES OF BOOTY TAKEN.

AT SIDI BARRMI.

Navy's Part In Successful Forward Move.

British Official Wireless. (Heed. 1 p.m.) RUCBY. Dec. 12. 1 he results of further developments to tlu; west of Sidi Barrani, where operations are proceeding, are eagerly awaited. The full extent of this switt and ini]H»rt;int success cannot he immediately assessed, and the number of prisoners taken is not yet known, hut significance is attached to the large quantities of war material that have fallen into British hands.

Sidi Barrani, a -mall whitewashed own. some .">(1 miles from the Libyan ront ier. was evacuated by tile Kritish n (lie early stages ot hostilities anil is tself without strategic value. It ici|liired importance when it became ■ ra/ianis advanced supply base and a nad head.

I lie Bi iti-h advance, which clilniiliated •ii it- rapture, on Monday, and lie I'.A.K. and naval forces co-oporated ■ irillia lit Jy with tin* military opera I ionx, tlu- re-ult ut wh cli would appear that the Italians were, rrom the outlet, thrown ill a state of much confusion. The effectiveness of aerial assistance was enhanced by the restricted scale of Italian lir action—due no doubt to the deadly effectiveness of the recent constant attacks by the R.A.F. on enemy aerodromes and bases.

Although, for reasons which will be apparent, the full extent of naval cooperation cannot yet be disclosed. It is very briefly dealt with in an Admiralty communique which states: —"The Royal Navy continues to play its part in disorganizing the- Italian retreat in Africa.

"Both heavy and light units of the Med'ti'iraneaii Fleet are continually urasuing Italian communication-*. Our hips heavily bombarded loial points of ilie Italian re; rent "at Solium, near the Libya-Egypt frontier, and Bardia, oil , lie Libyan count. No damage or casualties lias Ix'en suffered by any of our units during these operations.

"Other British naral units carried out the bombardment of Kismayti, Italian Somaliland, damaging Italian supplies. Enemy coastal batteries replied ineffeel ivel v to our fire."'

While in London there is a disinclination to speculate on the full results of success in the Western Desert, Egypt, and throughout the Middle Ka*t it is regarded as being of immense significance. not only oil account of the effect on tlie military campaign, but as con--tituting Sidi Barrani as a fairly important city. In Turkey the development of the British offensive is being watched with the closest interest, and informed commentators there even declare that the attack on Sidi Barrani may be regarded as a turning point in the war.

The Secretary of War, Mr. Anthony Eden. navs a cable message, telegraphed (iiMieral Sir Archibald Wavell, British ('omniander-in-Chief in the Middle Last. "On liehalf of all ranks of the army .serving at home or in other theatres, .1 send you. and all under your command, congratulations on your victory. This brilliant stroke has delighted and filled us with pride." Mr. Eden's message to Sir Archibald Wavell reflects the general enthusiasm which has greeted the announcement of the capture of Sidi Barrani with many prisoners, including three generals.

high officers.

LEADERS TAKEN PRISONER.

(Heed, noon.) KHiBY. Dec. 12. The three generals captured in \esteidav's ti ,r htiii" were (leneral Sebastiano (.'allina. *" who has been stationed in Libva for live years and who is corps commander, and (Jenerak Amando Pescatore and Mezzari, divisional commandcrs. Since December 0 three Italian generals have resigned, three have been captured and three have been killed. Two admirals have resigned.

The fir«Jt published comment in Italy on the recent army and naval high command changes has appeared. The Fascist partv is seeking to blame the military authorities for inefficiency in the (ireek war. but does not succeed in hiding the fact that Field-Mar?nal Badoglio and his colleagues were opposed to the Fascist war plan, and resigned localise they refused to be further associated with it. The Cairo newspapers feature the capture of Sidi Barrani. which sent the Kgyptians wild with joy. "Kl Fhram uses as a headline a verse from the Koran: "Our possession is returned to I lis.."

Prices rose sharply on (.he local stock exchanges, and there is a feeling of confidence everywhere in Egypt.