SIEGE OF BARDIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20440, 28 December 1940, Page 11

SIEGE OF BARDIA

SLIGHT ADVANCES BRITISH POSITIONS ITALIAN BOMBING ROYAL NAVY SUPREME MEDITERRANEAN ZONE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 27, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 26. The situation round Bardia is unchanged. The British positions are still roughly eight miles from the town except at some points where the lines have been advanced for a few hundred yards.

The Cairo correspondent of the Times says that the enemy has nol attempted to relieve or support the garrison. The only outside sign of interest in the fate of the beleaguered troops is increased aerial activity. Dive-bombers operating from 70 miles behind Bardia swoop out of the sun against the Empire v troops lying unprotected in the open desert around Solium. No German planes have appeared. No Italian warships have arrived to help the garrison.

The Alexandria correspondent of The Times after returning from a voyage with the 'Mediterranean Fleet says: “We sailed about 300 miles without seeing a sign of the enemy except a floating mine which was promptly dispatched. What does that mean? Whatever the answer may be —whether Italy is short of fuel or her servicemen are tired of the war or the whole nation is war weary—the real story is that the Mediterranean Fleet has won the battle of the Mediterranean. A few months ago we were always bombed at sea. Now we never see a bomber.”