RING ROUND BARDIA

Evening Star, Issue 23770, 28 December 1940, Page 9

RING ROUND BARDIA

PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES STEADY FLOW OF REINFORCEMENTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 27. The heavy shelling of Barclia continues, and more reinforcements are arriving. The troops are now taking up their positions for an attack. The Ankara radio, explaining the reason for the delay by the British in attacking the Italians, stated that any offensive'at Bardia must effect a break as the, Italian fortified line is in the shape of a crescent, with the enemy’s back to the sea. To break through involves continuous firing, and it is essential to be superior to the enemy. Heavy tank units and guns continue to arrive. An answer is also give from Ankara to the question why the British forces do /iot continue the attack against Tobruk. The explanation given is that to do so the British must advance along the coast road and that cannot be done until Bardia has fallen. The southern road is not so wide and is under the fire of the Italians. The superiority of the enemy in numbers was also mentioned, but the commentator expressed full confidence in the ability of the British forces to carry out their tasks.

ITALIAN COMMUNIQUE LONDON, December 27. ('Received December 28, at noon.) 'An Italian communique reports that artillery and patrol action continues on both sides on the Libyan frontier zone. The Italian Air Force is very active and bombed ships in the bay of the advanced enemy base, also enemy batteries and mechanised forces. MUSSOLINI'S ORDERS lAROIA TO BE HELD AT ALL COSTS tßy Radio.) LONDON, December 28. Cairo reports that Ita'lian prisoners state that Mussolini gave orders that Bardia was to be held at all costs. The Italian forces were preparing to move out of the town when Mussolini’s order was received. ; A heavy British bombardment of Bardia is proceeding. Italian activity is confined to the air. Thousands of Italians are reported to be working feverishly in constructing additional defences at Tobruk. NO CHANGE IN SITUATION

AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN SCORE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 11 a.m.) A Cairo communique states that the ■ituation on all fronts is unchanged. Aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force Squadron shot down two Italian fighters in the Western Desert yesterday, states an R.A.F. Middle East communique. Four enemy aircraft were severely damaged by the squadron, but their destruction is not confirmed. A low-level attack was made on December 24 on the enemy landing ground at Gazala, all the bombs falling in the target area. Numerous reconnaissances were made on Christmas Day, and our fighter patrols were active. During a reconnaissance over Naples our aircraft encountered an Italian bomber and shot it down in flames into the sea.

FORMIDABLE DEFENCES HONGKONG READY FOR ANY EMERGENCY HONGKONG, December 27-. (Received December 28, at 10.30 a.m.) Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert BrookePopham has arrived and toured the defences. Ho stated: “ Anyone who thinks Hongkong can be captured in three or four days has got an erroneous impression.” AUSTRALIAN NAVY FINE RECORD OF SERVICE SYDNEY, Decembers. (Received. December 28, at 9.25 a.m.) Reviewing the activities of the Australian Navy, tho Minister of the Navy (Mr Hughes) announced that 90 per cent, of the Australian naval ships were now in Australian waters. Ho was not permitted to say more than that. He claimed that Australian ships had built up a fine record. “ Apart from co-operating with the Royal Navy in patrolling the trade routes of the world our ships have already sunk one enemy cruiser, destroyed several enemy submarines and destroyers and torpedo-boats, shot down enemy aircraft, and captured enemy merchant ships,” said Mr Hughes, who also praised the operations of other units of the Australian Navy—namely, minesweepers, sloops, and other auxiliary craft which were constantlv at sea and had been patrolling the coastline ever since the war began.

DESTRUCTION OF THE RHEIN 9 ACTION BY SHIP OF DUTCH NAVY GERMAN SAILORS FOLLOW USUAL SCUTTLING TACTICS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 11 a.m.) Further information has been received officially about the capture and ultimate destruction of the German ship Rhein (6,031 tons) in West Indies waters by the Royal Netherlands Navy ship Van Kinsbergcn. A suspicious vessel was sighted by the Van Kinsbergen in the early hours of December 11. The ship was close and was identified with the aid of searchlights as the Rhein. As she was being ordered to stop, the Rhein attempted to escape in the darkness, but was brought to by a shot fired across her bows. A boarding party was sent over, and the crew of the German ship, who had previously set her on fire in an attempt to scuttle her, were transferred to the Van Kinsbergen. After fighting the fire for some hours, it was found impossible to save the German ship. Although the attempt to scuttle her had been prevented, the fire had taken too fierce a hold on the vessel for the boarding party alone to deal with it, and the heavy weather prevented attempts to take stronger measures. Accordingly, the boarding party was withdrawn and the Rhein sunk by gunfire.

■.V.W.-AV.V.W.V.W; NO MAGINOT LINE BRITAIN’S SEA WALL REPLY TO NAZI “VERBAL OFFENSIVE" (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 10 a.m.) Commenting on the Christmas flow of Nazi oratory, which it describes as a “ verbal offensive,” ‘The Times’ warns Marshal von Brauschitsch, who “is convinced that the war is already won,” to ponder on two important differences between the sea and the Maginot Line. “The sea has no flanks to be turned, and is not going to be . held by merely 'passive defence. The R.A.F. is now growing stronger daily, and strikes continually at invasion ports and far beyond. More powerful than ever, the Navy guards the sea, and the Army of Dunkirk, now the nucleus of a much larger body, stands ready for anything.” V.V.V.V.V.V.’.V.V.VA

TAUNTON RAILWAY SMASH MINISTRY’S OFFICIAL REPORT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 10.55 a.m.) The Transport Ministry official report on the rail crash near Taunton on November 4, in which 27 people were killed, states: “ The sole cause was an unaccountable lapse on the part of the driver. The breakdown may .be partly attributed to operating conditions in the blackout, and general strain, which railway servants, in common with other members of the community, are undergoing at the present time.”

MR DE VALERA'S OPERATION TO PREVENT TOTAL BLINDNESS DUBLIN, December 27. (Received December 28, at 10.25 a.m.) Mr Da Valera’s operation on December 18 was undertaken in order to prevent total blindness and to enable him to read his broadcast to the United States on December 26, whereas when he entered the nursing home he was able haltingly to read only large-typo printing.’ BRITISH TRADE MISSION IMPORTANT RESULTS IN SOUTH AMERICA (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. December 27. (Received December 28, at 9.55 a.m.) The departure from Montevideo of Lord Willingdon’s mission, en route from Uruguay to Chile, has been marked by appreciative references in the Press to the spirit of understanding and goodwill in which tho exchanges of views have taken place, ‘ El Plata ’ declared: ‘‘lmportant results have been achieved towards fulfilment of the mission’s purposes in alleviating in the friendliest manner trade difficulties caused by the war, and especially by the blockade, as well as in discussion of a reconstruction programme for postwar economy and promotion of confidence in the continued industrial capacity of Britain.” DANISH MERCHANTMEN MANILA, December 27. (Received December 28, at noon.) It is not confirmed that Danish merchantmen at present in the Philippines will he handed over to Britain shortly.

STEADY PROGRESS GREEKS’ RELENTLESS ADVANCE ITALIAN POSITIONS OCCUPIED BATTLE FOR ELBASAN (British Official Wireless ) RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 9.30 a.m.) The steady progress of Greek operations in Albania is recorded in a Greek communiquc, which states: “Local operations have been crowned with success, and enabled onr troops to advance and occupy enemy positions. Prisoners were captured and a considerable quantity of material fell into oui hands.” With a slight abatement of the piercing cold, the battle for Elbasan was continued yesterday with increased violence. The Greeks vigorously attacked northward of Pogradec, in the direction of Lin, which Greek patrols are reported to have entered. Greek pressure is also very strong in the valleys of the Shkumba and Devoli, particularly in the direction of Cbukus. The Italians are making a great effort to hold their positions in the northern sector, and are doing their utmost to cover their retreat from Himara, desperately organising defences on the heights protecting Valotfa. R.A.F. SUCCESSES. Thirty-one Italian aircraft, comprising 10 over Greece and 21 over the African fronts, were definitely destroyed by the R.A.F. in the week ending December 26, compared with a loss of seven British machines. The total of Italian planes destroyed to date is 416, compared with 75 British. In reciprocating a Christinas message from Admiral Sakellarion, Chief of the Green General Nava] Staff, Mr A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, stated that he was convinced that British collaboration would ensure even happier results in the coining year. CAMPAIGN A BLUNDER ITALIAN OFFICERS’ ADMISSION LONDON, December 26. An Italian prisoner, Major Canibolio, told the correspondent of the Associated Press of America with the Creeks in the coastal sector: “This campaign is a worse defeat than Caporetlo and is largely due to a breakdown in the Italian transport system.” Another prisoner, Lieutenant-colonel Borsini, said lie and' most of the Italian officei-s regarded the Greek campaign as a blunder, “ since it threw the Greeks into British arms, which might decide the whole outcome of the war.” Major Cambolio asserted that the Italians, since the initial Allied bombardment, were frequently without food and the clothing was inadequate against the; terrible cold. BRITISH BOMBERS BUSY CENTRE HEAR VALOHA ATTACKED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 11 a.m.) A communique from the British Air Force in Greece states that warehouses, buildings, and railway lines at a village south of Valona were bombed by the R.A.F. yesterday. All the bombs fell in the target area. Nine enemy fighters intercepted our formation and a 10minutes’ engagement resulted. From all the operations all onr planes returned safely.

RELIEF FUNDS GIFTS FROM RHODESIA (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. (Received December 28, at 11.17 a.m.) For the relief of Greek combatants and civilians the Federated Rhodesian Hellenic communities have raised £B,OOO. The. National War Fund of Southern Rhodesia made a further grant of £SOO. Already £6,500 has been sent to General Metaxas. TRADE AGREEMENT

YUGOSLAVIA AND RUMANIA MOSCOW, December 27. (Received December 28, at 10.30 a.m.) Tlio radio announced that a Yu«oRumanian agreement had been concluded under which Yugo-slavia will export iron ore. etc,, in exchange for oil products. HOME MAIL FOR NEW ZEALAND OCTOBER CONSIGNMENT LOST LONDON, December 27. (Received December 28 at 10.20 a.m.) The Post Office announces that letters for New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and Tonga posted between October 16 and 20 and parcels between October 10 and 30 were lost, due to enemy action.