MAKING READY TO ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 9

MAKING READY TO ATTACK

Imperial Troops Take Up Positions LONDON, December 27. The shelling of Bardia continues, and is increasing in intensity. The British and Dominion troops on the scene are being reinforced, and are taking up their positions for the attack. The Ankara radio says that any offensive must take the form of a break through the Italian defences, which are shaped like a crescent, and are backed by the sea. For this it m essential that the attackers should be superior to the enemy, and heavy .tanks and guns are being concentrated for the task. Ankara radio also answers questions as to why the British do not go on past Bardia to attack Tobruk. It says that the most practicable route is alone the coast road, on which Bardia stands, a road to the south being unsatisfactory. Therefore Bardia must be taken first. The announcer reminded listeners that the superior numbers of the Italians in Libya had also to be taken into consideration. Turkish confidence in British prowess continues. It is now revealed that in the early stages of the offensive, an Indian division marched 30 miles in one day to take up its positions ready to co-oper-ate with British mechanized forces on ,the attack on Nib Eiwa. Later the same division took part in other successful operations.