DESERT SUCCESS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1940, Page 5

DESERT SUCCESS

GRAPHIC STORY OF BRITISH SUCCESS, (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 16. . The first British success in the operations aghast the Italians —the capture oi Nibeiwa—has been graphically described by a Reuter correspondent. The most eastern of the Italian bases in the Western Desert, Fi beiAva Avas strongly defended. Outside, it Avas guarded by land mines and inside the encampment Avere heavy batteries.

Blasting salvoes of gunfire woke the Italians at 4 o’clock on the morning the British offensive began, but then came a period of.quiet until the Italians Averc at breakfast. Then about a dozen British tanks charged into the camp from the rear witn all their guns blazing. Indian infantry then took a hand, charging into the camp from the front through the minefields. Some of the mines blew .up. The Italians were so taken by surprise that tank crews had no time to \ get into their tanks. The commander, of the Italian armoured dmsion (Gen- - 'oral Maletti) was hit in the lung by'< a bullet and died as he was, being carried to a tent. The Italians Averc completely routed and only a handful escaped. ; ■ „•;'!£* i The British* forces then attacked two other camps further to the Avest and only at one was there any serious resistance. Here 12 Italian tanks were knocked out. The British forces reformed their lines after they had taken these camps and commenced the advance on Sidi Bnrrani. Tanks reinforced by infantry attacked Sidi Barrani from the south and Avest, and other forces of infantry attacked from other directions. The right wing of the attackers quickly .reached its objective, bu the left wing came under heavy fire and 20-pounders were brought up to clear the way. * ~ The final attack came at 3 p.m, when Highlanders and other infantry regi- : ments charged Avith fixed bayonets. j When they approached .the camp the Italians began to flee, but betAveen j 3,000 and 4,000, were, taken, prisoner, i Others who escaped were harried "by British forces further to the west. t

Dozens of Italian lorries are in use j carrying prisoners, back to the base. It is estimated that it will probably take 12 days to complete the task. Big gangs of labourers and Army engineers are engaged, in., extending and improving the roads, and the Avater supply. 1 lie Italians are'making" an insignificant effort to bomb the: roads and the railway leading westvW ■ -‘ A it is officially stated that British machines have - bombed every Italian ? landing ground in the AA'ide area covered by the fighting, and, in addition, a- heaA-y attack was; carried out on --A Bardia, a feiv miles.'inside the frontier,. ■ V,AAAV.V- a/

Heavy damage was done to barracks and warehouses, and there were many large explosions. Bardia and Tobruk were still burning from earlier raids.

News of the Navy’s part is contained in a communique from tlie 1 Commander-in-Chief inthe Alediterranean (Admiral Sir A. Cunningham), who said that naval forces .had been active along the coast between Sidi Barrani and Bardia, end carried out several successful bombardments. An attack was made on British naval units by E-boats, but these were driven off.

An Italian submarine which attempted an attack while the warships were shelling the shore was sunk. British casualties in the land operations are reported to be'amazingly light considering the. intensive nature of the fighting. One British armoured brigade which captured 1,400 prisoners in an hour signalled urgently for assistance in watching them, as it was anxious io continue the advance. British troops are mopping up all over the battle ,-ione, which is littered with guns, ammunition, and equipment of every kind. The dead are being buried) where they lie.