A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 109, 1 February 1941, Page 12

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

The Imperial advance in Libya, which has been throughout so swift, has not lost its recently-increased momentum. A week after the fall of Tobruk an Australian and British force has captured the town of Derna, which stood in the way of the coastal advance. Consistent with the desperate importance to the enemy of holding their relatively fertile Cyrenaica, the garrison put up a more determined resistance than at Bardia or Tobruk, though their fortifications were weaker. Most of the 10,000 Italians are believed to have escaped to the west. The Imperial drive on a wide front is continuing, though the enemy evidently remain in possession of the inland road junction south-west of Derna. In Italian East Africa the great task of road-building and the concentration of sufficient reinforcements for the coming big push is being carried out systematically. The thrust in Eritrea, where the enemy are at present mainly menaced, has evidently paused to enable a massing of forces for the assault against the railhead to the sea. The only effect of the Italian counter-attacks in Albania has been to delay the Greek advance. The advance has not stopped, however, and ground has been won with a follow-up as each Italian attack has been repulsed. The Luftwaffe on Thursday made what is described as the strongest daylight attack over south-eastern England for some months. Planes came over singly. No great damage and only a few casualties -ire reported. The Foreign Affairs Committee ot the United States House ot Representatives has approved the Aid to Britain Bill with minor amendments which do not affect its basic objections. Ihe House is expected to begin its debate c.n the Bill next Monday.