“VICTORY OF FIRST ORDER”

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23203, 14 December 1940, Page 11

“VICTORY OF FIRST ORDER”

Mr Churchill’s

Comment CONGRATULATIONS

TO FORCES (CHITED PRESS AbSOCIATXON—COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 13, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 12. Speaking in the House of Commons on the fighting in Africa, the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) said that, though, it was too soon to measure the scale of the operations, it was clear that they constituted a victory which, in this African theatre of war, was of the first order.

Amidst cheers, Mr Churchill added his congratulations to General Sir Archibald Wavell, the British Comman-der-in-Chief in the Middle East, Lieu-tenant-General Sir Maitland Wilson, commanding the British lana forces, and the troops who had performed this “remarkable feat of endurance and daring which accompanied the victory.” “The whole episode must be judged upon a background of fact,” he declared. "It is only three or four months ago that our anxieties for the defence of Egypt were acute. Those anxieties have now been removed and the Brit-

ish guarantee that the pledge to Egypt would be effectively defended against all comers has been in every way made good.” The Secretary of State for War (Mr R. A. Eden) has sent the following telegram to General Sir Archibald Wavell; ‘‘On behalf of all ranks of the army serving at home and in other theatres, I send you and all under your command congratulations on your victory. Your brilliant stroke has delighted and filled us with pride." . Congratulations have been pouring in to Sir Archibald Wavell. . . The South African Prime Minister (General Smuts) expressed his feelings by saying that it was a most acceptable Christmas box, and a fine augury for the success of the campaign in the Middle East. A Turkish newspaper states that Italian dreams of conquest are shattered, and Italy must consider now how best to defend herself. _

The news of Italian defeats in Albania and Egypt is being broken gently to the Italian Army Signor Ansaldo, in a broadcast to the troops, said that the war would be long and undoubtedly hard. The Italian people must understand that the war would have its vicissitudes and weeks of brilliant communiques must be follow/ed by days of more melancholy news. But, he reassured his listeners, favourable' communiques would return. Fall of Sidi Barrani

Sidi Barrani, a small whitewashed town some 50 miles from the Libyan frontier, was evacuated by the British in the early stages of hostilities, and cl itself without strategic value. II acquired importance when it became Marshal Graziani’s advanced supply base and road-head. • The British 'advance, which culminated in its capture, began on Monday, and the Royal Air ana naval forces co-operated brilliantly with the military operations, with the result that the Italians were, from the outset, thrown into a state of mucn confusion. The effectiveness of the aerial assistance was enhanced by the restricted scale of the Italian air action—due, to the deadly effectiveness of the recent constant attacks by the Royal Air Force on enemy aerodromes and bases. Although, for reasons which will be apparent, the full extent of the naval co-operation cannot yet be disclosed, it is briefly dealt with in an Admiralty communique which states; “The Royal Navy continues to play its part in disorganising the Italian retreat in Africa.