N.Z. FORCES

Grey River Argus, 19 December 1940, Page 5

N.Z. FORCES

Strenuous Work in Western Desert

(Received December 18, 9.10 p.m.) [Official War Correspondent with N.Z.E.F. in Egypt.] CAIRO, December 17.

“I am writing this on Monday, December 15, in the Western Desert, (Motor transport drivers and nailers have spent strenuous -days carrying out limited, but not insignificant, parts that the N.Z.E.F. has been called on to play in the British often-, sive. Long before the push began, Army Service Corps transport col-j umns were conveying men and supplies in a constant stream to for-1 ward areas. Night and day throughout the offensive they have continued this work on an intensified scale. -In the past week their drivers spent hours at the wheel running up a thousand miles of desert travel

and moving further and further westwards as British forces pressed deeper into enemy occupied territory. At a later stage trucks and drivers were drawn from many other new Zealand units to form a further huge transport column,. which journeyed westwards with supplies and {carried thousands of prisoners back to the concentration area. Long and arduous hours have been filled in different ways throughout the offensive by New Zealand Signals Coy. This detachment, which has been operating with the Western Desert forces ever since Italy entered the war helped to; shoulder the big responsibility of establishing and maintaining communications in the rear of the advancing British troops. (Received December 18, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 17.

The correct name of the footballer who died of wounds in Egypt, as cabled to-day, is Rew, not Ren.

Australians Attack

THREE PRESSMEN CAPTURE 20 ITALIANS

(Received December 18, 11.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 17.

A correspondent of the Associated Press of America, reporting from Egypt, features an attack by Australians on Bardia, saying the commander complained, “I can’t hold them back. They want to repeal their fathers’ feats of the last war." He adds that an Australian mechanised vanguard captured an Italian column, while thre e , newspapermen attached to thd A.1.F., armed with an unloaded rifle, rounded up twenty Italian prisoners.

Capture of Italians

UNWILLING CONSCRIPTS (Received December 18, 8.40 p.m? LONDON, December 17. “The Times” correspondent on the Western Desert front says; “One British brigade, sweeping round west from Bugbug, captured a, whole Italian division on th e road from Solium. Th 0 officers mostly were well .imbued with the Fascist spirit, but th? rank and file were completely unbellicose. Many have since declared their dearest wish would be to cut Signor Mussolini’s throat. Th 0 prisoners numbered fourteen thousand. Thev were just conscripts whom Signor Mussolini tried to spur to heroic deeds by th e lure of Empire. An Associated Press correspondent at Solium says: The Italians have outnumbered the British bv four Io one in almost every encounter thus far.

The “Daily Telegraph” correspondent at Malakal reports: British forces patrolling from bases inside Abyssinia are operating well beyond the frontier, but their ■ operations must not be overestimated. • BRITISH AIR SUCCESSES LONDON. December 17. “The Times” Cairo correspondent says: The British and Australian air forces’ total bag since operations began in the Western Desert is now 122, compared with 13 or 14 planes lost. The actual total bag is considerably higher in view of the great number put out of action on the ground. BritisJiForces MOVE MORE CAUTIOUSLY (Received December 18, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 17. Mr Ward Price, the “Daily Mail’s” correspondent, says: “There is a cautious approach to General Wavell’s objective. It can be reckoned only in companies.”

ITALIAN STAND.

INDICATED AT BARDIA:

(Received December 18 7.15 p.m|) CAIRO, December 17.

British mechanised forces are reported to be driving to the outskirts of Bardia, where there are Italian forces massed for a desperate stand.

TURKISH PAPER’S ESTIMATE.

ISTANBUL, December 17.

The newspaper, “Ukeham,” declares: “Damage done to the Italian fleet and removal of the possibility of attack on Egypt have settled the Mediterranean problem in England’s favour.”

ANGLO-ITALIAN ARMISTICE. TURKISH SUGGESTION. (Received December 18, 9.30 p.m.) INSTANBUL, December 17. The Turkish official radio at Ankara declares an Anglo-Italian armismistice to be “entirely possible.” ADELAIDE, December 18. The Minister of the Army (Mr. Spender) has announced his intention of going to Egypt to visit the Australian troops. He said he wanted to make sure that the Australians’ equipment was 100 per cent. ARABS ATTACK BRITISH LONDON, December 17. The Rome radio states that Arab rebells attacked a British column marching at night in the Samarian Mountains. They killed one officer and 12 other ranks, and captured several machine-gun s and ammunition. Regular troops assisted the Arabs, but it is not known from where the regulars came.