TERSE COMMUNIQUE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 January 1941, Page 7

TERSE COMMUNIQUE

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

WIDESPREAD DAMAGE

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

(British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 7. A Cairo communique states that the operations towards Tobruk are proceeding' satisfactorily.

An R.A.F. Middle East communique states that further raids were carried out on Tobruk yesterday by the R.A.F. Bombs fell on the foreshore and military objectives in the town, but the full details of the damage could not be observed. Derna and Martuba were also raided successfully in the Tobruk area. A C.1t.42 was shot down and another enemy lighter' probably destroyed, while other enemy aircraft were damaged. _ The enemy aerodrome for Tobruk (El Adem) has been evacuated, and 40 aircraft in a damaged condition owing to R.A.F. bombing have been captured by our troops. The Italian troops put out of action in Libya include the capture or destruction of three Italian metropolitan divisions, the First and Second Blackshirt Divisions, the First and Second Libyan Divisions, and three Maletta Mechanised Forces . probably . ffi nature of a mechanised division. EMPIRE TEAMWORK.

Messages reaching London from from Australia indicate that the enthusiasm with which the capture of Bardia was received in the Commonwealth was as great as that . with which the British people acclaimed the triumph of the gaJJant Australian troops. A natural comparison springing to mind in both’ Australian and British people is that of Gallipoli, where a previous generation of Commonwealth soldiers covered themselves with imperishable glory. Typical of the expressions voiced on all sides is the remark of the Melbourne Sun: “Besides the pride Australia feels in the winning of this firso big-scale action by volunteers, the victory of the desert is an inspiring example of Empire teamwork.” . . A Rome message says it is officially stated that Bardia has completely fallen into the hands of the British Forces. ». ■ The communique issued announcing this said: “The last strongholds which still resisted ir. Bardia fell towards the evening of January 5. The losses inflicted on the enemy were heavy.. Our losses in material and men were also heavy, including dead, wounded, and missing.”