HON. CHURCHILL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1940, Page 6

HON. CHURCHILL

IN THE COMMONS. REVIEWS THE WAR FRONTS. (Per British Official Wireless.) (Received this day at 11 a.in.) RUGBY, December 10. Hon. W. Churchill in a statement in the Commons on operations in the western desert ? said:—“On the night qf December 7 a strong detachment from the Army of the Nile, under Sir Maitland - AAhlsoiq comprising British Imperial troops and a. detachment from Free French forces, advanced towards positions which the Italians had fortified since their incursion across the Egyptian frontier, three months ago. It was realised that operations of advancing almost in a single bound across seventy-five miles of desert, was by no means free from hazard and complexity, when considerable forces wore employed. It was therefore with satisfaction that the British Government learned that this long rapid approach was successfully accomplished yesterday. On the morning of the ninth, onr forces contacted with the enemy at various points over a wide front stretching from Sidibarrani on the coast into the desert. The attack was delivered against positions on the Italian centre to the southward of Sidi Barrani. In the first defended area which was Osaulted and overrun, five hundred prisoners and some war material fell into our hands. The Italian General in command was killed and the second in command captured. Later in the day a. further advance was made into a second, stronger and more important position position nearer the coast. More prisoners and material was taken, Other British forces also reached the coast between Sidi Barrani and Buqbuy, making further captures of transport and prisoners. In is too soon to attempt to forecast either the scope on the result the considerable operations which are in progress but we can say the preliminary phase lias been successful. The British Mediterranean Fleet and the B.A.F. are, of course, co-operating closely. British warships bombed various coastal positions .finding; particularly, Maktila apd Sidi Barrani. Oh the: eighth a heavy attack /was made by bombers on an enemy aerodrome at Benghazi, where about twentyfive tons of bombs were dropped effectively on hangars and.- enemy, aircraft. The same night air attacks were made pu .Xtiflian advanced aerodrqnjes 'in a pfejudo to the ahornirig- action, and througout yesterday bombers continually harassed Italian advanced aerodromes, while fighters and Huri •icane squadrons' -were conspicuous, made lowflying machine-gun attacks on troops and motor transport causing substantial losses. Mr Churchill said the sudden collapse of Trance had made the task of defending Egypt one of extreme difficulty but by the time of Mr Eden’s visit, reinforcements, of me-n and material had given a greater feeling of secur--ity and opened a possibility of the assumption of the offensive; Further Jei‘ou, the execution .qf the ollgiisiyo plans which'-had been matured,” how- , necessitated.by. the air. assist-r "ancb sent'to Greece : . • " .The Premier, added, that the. part played by the R.A.F. i u the ' Greek victories Jiad, been most important, and they had received the warmest expressiops of gratitude from the Greek King. for the aid they had been able to give. By the beginning of. December the British air forces in Egypt were once again in a position to afford the necessary support to the army in a forward movement. a