STARTS AT TOBRUK

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1941, Page 5

STARTS AT TOBRUK

BARDIA CLEAN-UP Capture Acclaimed [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, January 6. A General Headquarters Cairo communique states: While the clearance of the battlefields around Bardia is progressing, advanced elements of our forces are now approaching the Tobruk area. Prisoners counted at Barciia number over thirty thousand, with quantities of tanks, guns, equipment and stores of all sorts. Patrolling activity continues on the frontiers of Sudan and Kenya. ITALIAN GENERAL KILLED. ROME, January 6. General Stefano Cadma wa s killed in an air battle over the Balearics. NAVY’S PART. LONDON, January 5. ' A spokesman for the Austra ian Imperial Forces gave the credit ot the success of the Bardia attack largely to the Navy for giving a knock-out blow with their ceaseless bombardment. TOBRUK MENACED. LONDON, January 6. The “Dailj r Express’’ Bardia' correspondent says: “Tobruk is now menaced. A great part of the British mechanised forces is streaming along the coast to Tobruk, and these are clearing up Italian positions as they go. British troops holding Eladem and Elgubbi wave to British planes as they fly over.

BRITISH PATROLS MOVE TOWARDS OASIS. (Received January 7, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 6. “The Times” Bardia correspondent, indicating activity by British patrols, says: Another successful thrust was made concurrently with that on Bardia against a line of Italian defences following the frontier southward of Jarabub to the oasis. Units have advanced far enough to isolate the Jarabub garrison. Tobruk Reached BY ARMOURED FORCES. January 8, 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, January 7. The British Associated Press correspondent of Bardia says: Advanced British armoured forces already are operating around outer defences of Tobruk. CONTACT MADE. (Received January 8, 1.48 a.m.) LONDON, January 7. Th e military authorities have announced that British mechanised forces are at present in contact with the outer defences of Tobruk.

Bardia Garrison “DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR.” [British Official Wireless] (Received January 7, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, January 6.

The Minister of Information, Mr Duff Cooper, in his broadcast on the fall of Bardia, said:—“lt is wrong to insult the defeated enemy, and it is inglorious for civilians to question the courage of those who have passed through this battle. If the events in Libya and in Albania indicate that there is a certain lack of determination and enthusiasm in the Italian soldiery, there is a cause to which this can be attributed, without any imputation of a lack of valour. The Greeks know that they are lighting for their own country, which had been wantonly invaded by a far stronger Power. The British soldier knows equally that he is fighting for an existence which he values, for a freedom which he values more, and he knows that his Government was compelled by an aggression policy on the part of other nations to go to war. But what does the Italian say to himself on the morning of battle? In a twenty years’ interval he has attacked other nations, but he has not been attacked by them. He has made no claim to which satisfaction has been refused. He was living in peace, and was hoping for prosperity, when, for no reason except the insane ambition of his ruler, he was suddenly precipitated into war. The Italian people feel that they are fighting for a bad cause. If. in this way, Italians are very far from being the best soldiers, it is because they do not know what they are lighting for.”

No Interest in War (Received January 7. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON. January 6. The correspondent of the British Associated Press in Bardia says: “It was sickening to see thousands of Italians marching into captivity like sheep, and displaying about the same reactions as sheep. The truth is that a large part of II Duce’s North African Army has been composed of Neapolitan waiters, and Southern Italian peasants. They have no interest in the war. They desire only to return to their little farms, their homes or their mandolins. One prisoner said: “I don’t like war because one is liable to get hurt. I did not want to come, but what cornu I do ?”

BRITISH OFFICER CRITICISES ITALIAN STRATEGY (Received January 7, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, J'anuary 6. A high British officer declared: — “Either Marshal Graziani is a very bad General, or he has been pushed into an unwise action by the Fascists.” The officer explained it was unwise for the Italians to have without securing themselve’s against such a defeat as that which has now been inflicted. He added: “The Ital-

lan Intelligence was consistently wrong concerning the size of the British forces sometimes grossly overestimating,' but sometimes being entirely unaware of their presence.” (Received January 7„ 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 6. British military technicians and Staff officers are now thoroughly surveying the Italian system of fortifications at Bardia, which are considered to be excellent strongholds of the Siegfried Line pattern. All of the main forts have concrete walls which are five feet thick. They are built entirely underground'. They show above ground only their guns, which are of all calibres, peeping from casements.