ITALIAN DISASTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1940, Page 7

ITALIAN DISASTER

ARMY BACK INTO LIBYA

ENORMOUS LOSSES CONFIRMED

BRITISH PRESSURE MAINTAINED

[BY CABLE.—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, December 15. The Italian forces in the Western Desert have been thrown back to the Libyan frontier, and reports reaching Cairo indicate that the British are already on the outskirts of Solium, 1 the immediate objective of the Bri-: tish Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East (Sir Archibald Wavell). The latest communique from Cairo estimates that more than 26,000 prisoners have been taken by the British, but later messages set the figure at 30,000. In addition, the Italians have lost immense quantities of guns, tanks, and equipment of all kinds. The com'munique reporting these successes adds that the British forces are continuing to press back the enemy, who is endeavouring to stem the tide of rout on and about the Libyan frontier. “The clearing of the' vast battlefield continues,” the communique says, “and the number of prisoners is steadily mounting. Ourj harassing activities on the Sudan j frontier continue unabated.” j

The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press declares that Marshal Graziani, the Italian Commander-in-Chief in Libya, has probably lost eight divisions —more than 100,000 men. The, Italians are being ceaselessly hammered as they retreat through “Hellfire Pass,” which they must use to get through Solium into Libya. It climbs 400 feet from the coast to the escarpment, and it is under heavy and constant fire from the British. There, is no sign of any relaxation of the terrific pressure on the Italians. Desperate fighting is said to be going on between British advanced units and Black Shirts on the border, where the Black Shirts are striving to consolidate their positions and vainly attempting to counter-at-tack. I AMAZING ADVANCE The speed with which the British movements as being carried out exceeds even the greatest expectations, i The amazing advance of the Imperial; Army of the Nile has resulted from a j combination of sheer courage and ingenious tactics. A striking tribute to the British advance comes from an Italian, Colonel Giusfreda, who was captured on the first day of the attack. When he was taken prisoner he; told a British officer: “The action was, brilliantly conceived and even more j brilliantly executed. We were com- j pletely taken by surprise.” General ; Giusfreda said that the action began | at Nibeiwa when the British opened; fire at dawn on December 9. Two - Italian patrols were sent out and, they heard British tanks approaching. I Nibeiwa soon fell, and after this the British forces reformed and attacked a group of forts lying between Nibeiwa and Sidi Barrani. These were captured by the evening, and then the way to Sidi Barrani lay open to the British. The Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states, that the official estimates of the num-I ber of prisoners are extremely mod- 1 erate, and that it is unlikely that many Italians succeeded in escaping the British drag-net. I

WHIRLING SANDSTORM (Recd. Dec. 16, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. The battle of the Western Desert continues to rage without respite, as the British army hurls in men and tanks in a tremendous effort to break the Italian resistance on the. Libyan border. Our forces crossed the frontier at various points, but the crossings cannot yet be described as an invasion. A whirling sandstorm is rendering fighting conditions most difficult.

AXIS PROGRESS STAYED I RUGBY, December 14. ' The progress of the Axis, brought to a halt at Taranto and on the Greek frontier, is definitely stayed and turned. This was the opinion expressed by Brigadier-General Lord Croft, Parliamentary Uunder-Secretary of State for War, commenting on the battle in the Western Desert to-day. “Prudence in the face of a numerically superior enemy,” he said, “might have dictated a static defence by General Wavell in Egypt. The irresistible urge to get at the Italians ourselves and to assist Greece in instant fight however, impelled our com-mander-in-chief to reverse the roles arid himself attack his entrenched and fortified adversary. The operations of the last few days are one of the most skilful and brilliant episodes of the great story of the British Army. Military circles in London, commenting on the operations in the Western Desert, where, on a 420 square miles battlefield the British forces are engaged in “mopping up pockets of resistance where they are found amongst the scattered and disorganised Italian troops, point out that a pause in the operations, or even no further 'news, should cause neithei surprise nor disappointment when the activities of the last week are considered in their proper perspective, as well as the task immediately before the British troops. Great distances in a waterless country make dealing with as many as 25,000 prisoners a task of difficulty, while a week of desert fighting and travelling long distances imposes a severe strain on men and machines alone, necessitating a rest for repairs and overhaul. Military circles lay special emphasis on the smoothness with which the operations were carried out, and which were the result of careful and . long preparations and training. FOOD AND OIL CAPTURES Britain has captured all the food and oil the Italians had accumulated for the invasion of Egypt, reports a war correspondent in the Western Desert. Most of the Italian prisoners appeal’ to be numbed and bewildered. The majority were completely ignorant of events in Greece. Military circles say that it is difficult to estimate the exact strength of the Italian divisions, which are extremely flexible. A Libyan division is. usually between 7000 and 8000, a Black Shirt division between 10,000 and 11,000, and a Metropolitan division between 13,000 and 14,000. There may be an additional three or four corps of troops with each' division m the big army. The five Italian generals who have been captured have been conveyed to Cairo by air. The capture of General .Sabasiano on Thursday means that Italy’s two generals commanding the forces in Egypt have been eliminated. New Zealanders, Australians, South

Africans, and Canadians are participating in the Royal Air Force’s desert attacks. BARDIA EVACUATION? CAIRO, December 15.. Enemy columns have left Bardia, but it is not clear whether the Italians are withdrawing from there. British artillery and bombers are pounding the Haifa road—known as Hell Fire Pass—where Italians are fleeing up the escarpments. Mechanised units are pressing the Italians hard, but the slowing down of their momentum is now to be expected. It is still not revealed whether the British intend to carry the war much beyond the Libyan frontier. British warships and merchantmen are ferrying thousands of prisoners to Alexandria in an endeavour to relieve the land communications. FRONTIER CROSSED. | (Received December 16, 10 a.m.) I LONDON, December 15. i It was learned in London to-day ' the British forces are pressing back ,■ the enemy over the Egyptian fronj tier, and have penetrated Italian ter- ! ritory. i FRONTIER OPERATIONS I RUGBY, December 15. ; An official communique from the 'headquarters at Cairo states. In Egypt, operations are proceeding on the Libyan frontier, where our troops ’ continue to press the enemy. A heavy . dust storm is raging, and visibility is bad. . , On other fronts there is no change. “BLOODY ENCOUNTERS” (Recd. Dec. 16, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 11. An Italian communique says: After the evacuation of Sidi Barrani. on December 14, Italian and British troops met in bloody encounters i throughout the day in the Fort Capuz- : zo, Solium and Bardia zones. Attacks and counter-attacks were carried out without respite. The .enemy pressure has not slackened. | Enemy planes bombed bases .at i Bardia and Tripoli, and also carried ■ out incursions in some localities in , Eritrea. i The British carried out air-raids on j Naples last night, and dropped bombs on the port and a Molotov breadbasket on the city. Besides bomb , damage to a warship, another bomb sank a small sailing ship. The A.R.P. quickly extinguished the fires. Eight civilians were wounded.

Dozens of Italian lorries are being used to carry prisoners back to the base. It is estimated it will probably take twelve days to complete the task. Big gangs of labourers, and army engineers are engaged in extending and improving the roads and water supply- . ... The Italians are making an insignificant effort to bomb the roads and railway leading west. FIVE CAPTIVE GENERALS. (Recd. December 16, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 15. It is learned that the five Italian Generals taken prisoner are Corps Commander Gallina, Divisional Commanders Pescatore and Mezzari, and also Cerio and Mazzetti. The exact designations of the two last-named are not known. OVERSEAS TROOPS. (Recd. December 16, 2.15 p.m.) ROME, December 15. Reports from Benghazi states that thousands of French, New Zealand and Australian troops joined in the fighting for Fort Capuzzo and Bardia, as the British attacks continued unabated, apparently driving towards Tobruk. ORDER OF THE DAY ' THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS ; LONDON, December 14. | The British Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East (General Sir Archibald Wavell), in a special Order of ’the Day issued to the troops on the i eve of the British offensive, said: “In ' everything but numbers we are superior to the enemy. The results I of the fighting will be one of the decisive events of the war. A signal and crushing defeat of the Italian I forces will have an incalculable effect I not only on the whole position in the I Middle East, not only bn the military . siuation everywhere, but on .the : future freedom of civilisation i throughout the world. It may shorten ! the war by many months. The Italians 1 entered the war treacherously and •without reason, because they expectI ed a cheap and easy victory. Let us ’show them their mistake by inflicting ! on them a stern and costly defeat. ; We have waited long in the Middle East. Our chance has come. Let us strike hard.” His Majesty the King has sent the following message to General Wavell: “Please convey to all ranks of the force under your command my heartfelt congratulations on their victory j in the Western- Desert. The skill in planning this complicated operation—for which the greatest credit is due to yourself and the commanders and staff of all three Services —was equalled by the efficiency and dash of the troops carrying it out. The whole Empire can be sure that contingents

“While continuing to give protection to our advancing troops, our aircraft shot down five CR42’s, making the total for the day 15. Four of our Gloster Gladiator four-gun fighters were lost, but three of the pilots escaped safely by parachute. One of our two bombers announced in yesterday’s communique as having failed to return to their base is now reported safe. “In Italian East Africa, Gura .was attacked, many bombs falling on the aerodrome. One incendiary bomb started a fire which was followed by loud explosions. At Diredawa, the pumping-station was attacked, all the bombs falling well within the target area. Asmara was also attacked heavily, but the weather prevented an accurate estimate of the damage caused. Caproni workshops at Mai Adaga suffered hits, while the landing grounds were heavily bombed. “No bombing operations were possible in Albania by our aircraft because of the weather.” AUSTRALIAN SUCCESSES. A squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force has played no small part in the successful air operations supporting the army in the Western Desert in the last few days, states the Air Ministry news service. The squadron has accounted tor many enemy aeroplanes and has done excellent work in covering the British troops’ advance. One Fiat CR37 fighter was included in their bag. They came upon Italian aircraft .machine-gun-ning British transports and attacked immediately. A flight lieutenant got a long burst right into the cockpit of the enemy machine which turned over on its back and hit the ground before bursting into flames. On the second day of the attack, five Australians accounted for 12 Fiat CR42 fighters, which were attempting to harass British troops. The squadron-leader who led the attack quickly shot down one, and the other Australians became engaged in a general dog fight. A flying officer said: “When I arrived, I saw three enemy aircraft in front preparing for another dive on our troops. By half rolling into a dive, I came astern of the last CR42. I was 150 yards behind him when I opened fire. He attempted a steep climbing turn but his aircraft collapsed in the middle of it.”

ITALIAN COMMENTS “A DESERT ENCOUNTER” LONDON, Dec. 15. The latest Italian communique says: “The frontier fighting continued in the Western Desert all day on Friday. Italian troops counter-attacked in the afternoon, and relieved the enemy pressure.” While accusing British propaganda of claiming great victories which were quite different from the truth, the Rome radio said that Britain had concentrated all her forces in this •part of the world under the leadership of one of her ablest men, General Wavell. The Italians were aware that they were living the gravest hour of their history, but they were convinced that the war would end in their favour.

The Rome radio later described the defeat in North Africa as merely a desert encounter. Marshal Graziani was awaiting the British in Libya with two great armies in fortified lines which were superior to the British. The radio hotly denied a report that Italy was negotiating for an armistice and also reports of revolts in Italian cities.

from, the Dominions and India, as well as-those of our Free French Allies, have played a distinguished part in this supremely successful encounter with an enemy vastly superior in numbers.”

R,A.F. ACTIVITIES. . GREAT HAVOC WROUGHT. i RUGBY, December 14. A communique issued to-day by the headquarters of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East states: “Throughout the last 24 hours fighter and bomber aircraft of the Royal Air Force continued without respite their support of the Army in the successful operations in the Western Desert. Aerodromes, landing grounds, fuel dumps, and stores of all kinds, including motor'' transport and troops, were bombed and machine-gunned. Derna was very heavily raided on Friday night and several tons of high-explosive bombs fell on the barracks, wifeless station and other military buildings. Fierce fires were caused, which spread rapidly. “Bardia was again attacked and direct hits were scored on stores at Gubi, Gambut, Derna, and Fomi. Gazala was also raided and one Fiat CR42 fighter and three Savoia-Mar-chetti 579 bombers were destroyed on the ground, and other enemy aircraft were made unserviceable. “On the Tobruk-Bardia road, our eight-gun fighters took heavy toll of the enemy.

The Italian paper “Messagero” states: “The fight in North Africa may continue and assume the most terrible aspect, but, whatever happens, England is condemned to lose the war. London set herself madly upon Rome with all her strength because Italy blocked the way to India through the Suez. She has obliged Britain to maintain in the Mediterranean considerable forces which otherwise would be used for the defence of the British Isles. The attack in North Africa is the best proof that England feels the Italian sword with a mortal thrust.” ITALIAN DISSENSIONS. FASCISTS AND ARMY LEADER. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] 1 RUGBY, December 13. The heavy defeats suffered by Italian arms in recent weeks in Albania, in the air and at sea, which have now been followed by a British victory of the first order in the African threatre of war, have aroused much speculation in neutral countries as to Italy’s participation in the war and the effect of the defeats on her relations with Germany. These speculations are fostered by reports reaching neutral countries of internal dissensions in Italy, x where, according to information available in the United. States, the war is increasingly unpopular and the morale low.. Latest advices from Milan refer to a split between Marshal Badoglio, the former Chief of the Italian General Staff, and his followers on one hand, and the Fascist Party on the other which, it is stated, has developed into an open conflict, Colour is given to these reports by an article • by Signor Farinacci, a member of the Fascist Grand Coun-

cil, in the Fascist-newspaper, “Regime Fascista,” of which he is editor. This article accuses Marshal Badoglio of endeavouring to split the Italian nation, and place the responsibility for the situation in which Italy finds herself especially in Albania, on the Fascist Party. Signor Farinacci alleges that Marshal Badoglio is spreading the report in influential circles that the Army Staff was not responsible for the war against Greece, to which it had always objected, and that when the staff was forced to attack it first asked for a greater number of : troops than those at its disposal. Signor Farinacci maintains that such representations are not only untrue, as Marshal Badoglio took command unconditionally, but are also childish, as it is common knowledge that the responsibility in warfare lies with the military and technical experts. The article concludes with a remarkable appeal to the Italian nation to rally round Signor Mussolini and the front-line fighters. It is clear that Signor Farinacci’s article, in which reference is made to' the offensive spirit of the Libyan army and the Italian successes in northern Africa, was written before the defeat at Sidi Barrani, which cannot fail further to accentuate internal dissensions.

Meanwhile, significant references have been made in the German Press to the threatened position of the Albanian oilfields. It is very noticeable that the German newspapers do not hesitate to hint that it is of the utmost importance to Italy to protect this relatively small source of oil supply, as there are definite limits to the Rumanian resources.

BADOGLIO’S CHOICE.. RUGBY, December 14. That Italy’s war against Britain and Greece are politicians’ wars, for neither of which sufficient military preparation was made, is stressed in “The Economist” in a comment on the resignation of Marshal Badoglio. It says: Now that the war has turned into war in earnest, politicians are rounding on soldiers and blaming them for a miscarriage-of their plans for easy victory. “The Economist adds: It is unlikely that Marshal Badoglio resigned on the Albanian issue alone. It is possible that it is a policy of subservience to the Nazis that he cannot stomach. ’ If the only alternative to defeat in Albania is to call in Germany, Marshal Badoglio may well have preferred defeat—or resignation. NAVAL BASE BOMBED RUGBY, December 15. An Italian High Command communique meanwhile admits not only the loss of Sidi Barrani, but moie significant,—admits “the pressuie of the. enemy has not eased.” A third admission is that a unit of medium size of the Italian navy had been hit and some damage was caused. Fifty of the crew were killed. This, according to the Italians, happened during three British air-raids on Naples, last night.

MALTA. RAIDED MALTA, December 15. Several formations of raiders have bombed the island. There were slight civilian casualties caused, and also civilian damage. GERMAN PRESS STATEMENT (Recd. Dec. 16, 10.55 a.m.) BERLIN, December 15. “Volkischer Beobachter” asks: Do the English really think that Germany will stand by and watch the weariness in Italy? The British sought to read into German non-interven-tion in Greece, an indication that Berlin would want to leave the Italians in the soup. The Graeco-Egyp-tian events give no cause for anxiety. We speak with full knowledge of the Italian war potential. AFRICAN NATIVE ATTITUDE RUGBY, December 14. An interesting survey is given in the “Manchester Guardian” of African resentment at the Nazi declaration that “the natives of the African Colonies are being compelled by force to contribute to the Win-the-War Fund.’’ The Sultan of Sokoto, it says, in a letter to the Governor of Nigeria, sending a contribution of £7,000 stated: “This is a lie, and I would like to ask Hitler whether it is by force also that we gather in our mosques and schools and offer up prayers from our hearts day and night for the success of British arms and the downfall of His Majesty’s enemies.” Several African newspapers express similar sentiments, the “Guardian” adds. At the same time hatred of Nazis is combined with a general expectation that British rule is going to be greatly improved, voicing as an instance the important Colonial Development and Welfare Act. It says. “Recent events have given good cause for having these expectations well founded.” GENERAL SMUTS’ VIEW JOHANNESBURG, December 15. “Signor Mussolini is beaten, and an army of three hundred thousand is in wild flight,” said General Smuts in a speech. “Italy still has two hundred thousand men in Abyssinia, but we shall talk about them next Christmas. I do not believe that this war will be over before then. But South Africa will see that the menace to its future happiness and independence is banished from Africa.”

MR SULLIVAN’S COMMENT.

AUCKLAND, December 14

“The latest news from overseas has been very encouraging,” said the Minister for Supply (Mr Sullivan), addressing a large parade of troops in the Auckland Domain to-day. “The junior partner of the Axis thought to subjugate Greece, but the glorious retaliation by that small nation has taught him a salutary lesson. Albania looks like being freed from oppression, repression, and exploitation. Again the news from the Middle East has been a tonic in inspiration and encouragement. -The arduous training, the discomforts of the desert, and the long preparation have culminated in a wonderful advance. Our boys have participated, and Hitler’s vassal is being given a stern- lesson and a much-needed thrashing.”