Graziani Appears to Have Lost Almost Everything

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 308, 17 December 1940, Page 7

Graziani Appears to Have Lost Almost Everything

Millions of Pounds Worth of Equipment Strewn About

Navy Disorganises Frantic Attempts to Make a Stand United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. .Received Monday, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, December 16. British troops in the Western Desert arc scavenging the equipment of an entire Italian army, says the Daily Telegraph’s special correspondent from Sidi Barrani. Marshal Oraziaiu seems to have lost everything except a few tanks. The landscape is strewn haphazard with millions of pounds’ worth of war material. Dumps of ammunition for mile after mile are neatly displayed alongside the track, while big barrels of Diesel oil are tumbled about in huge heaps everywhere. The Nibeiwa camp presented an astonishing scene of luxury. British troops gazed spellbound at liqueurs, bottles of chianti and mineral water in every tent, hundreds of cases of macaroni, tins of quince jelly, tomato extract, tunny fish and spaghetti. Some officers had elegant silverware, also plenty of perfumery. The Daily Telegraph’s special correspondent, at Cairo describes how a British pilot flashing down to attack an enemy machine saw a white flag waving from the rear of the gunner’s turret —surely an incident unique in air history-. A special communique issued at Rome to-night says: “The battle will last perhaps over a week. The Italians at present engaged and the reserves are more than sufficient for the situation.” A Cairo message states that throughout the night the Royal Navy was pouring in shells into Italian positions, disorganising frantic attempts to consolidate the defences against the land attack. The Daily Telegraph’s Zurich correspondent says German officers and picked squads are reported as being rushed to Italy to give aid or take command in the event of disturbances. ITALIANS ADMIT FIGHTING QUALITIES OF ANZACS The Popolo d’ltalia admits that all the Italian stories that New Zealand and Australian troops are incompetent mercenaries have been proved inaccurate. The events in Egypt have showD that they are formidable fighters.

Earlier Messages

Italians Streaming Towards Tobruk LONDON, December 15. It is learned in London to-day that the British forces in the Western Desert are pressing back the enemy over the Egyptian frontier and have penetrated Italian territory in Libya (says a British Official Wireless message). From Bardia. the Libyan port nearest the Egyptian border, ■treams of Italians can be seen making their way westward towards Tobruk. These forces are being relentlessly attacked by the R.A.F. The Battle of the Western Desert continues to rage without respite a 3 the British Army huris in men and tanks in a tremendous effort to break the Italian resistance on the Libyan border. The British forces have crossed the frontier at various points, but the crossings cannot yet be described as an invasion. A whirling sandstorm is rendering the fighting conditions most difficult. Dozens of Italian lorries are being used to carry prisoners back to the British 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 water supply. The Italians are making an insignificant effort to bomb the roav.s and railway leading west. Meanwhile, the work of “mopping-up” Italian remnants is proceeding over a vast battleground of 1200 square miles. An official communique issued by British headquarters in Cairo states: “In Egypt, operations are proceeding on the Libyan frontier, where our troops continue to press the enemy. A heavy dust-storm is raging, and visibility is bad. On the other fronts, there is no change.” An Italian High Command communique meanwhile admits not only the loss of Sidi Barrani but—more significant—admits that “the pressure of the enemy has not eased.” A third admission is that “a unit of medium size of the Italian Navy has been hit, and some damage has been caused. Fifty members of the crew were killed.” This, according to the Italians, happened during three British air-raids on Naples on Saturday night. The fullest possible support is being given the Army by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. An Air Force communique •tates that every Italian aerodrome in the Middle East is being continuously bombed. Severe damage has been done at Bardia, Tobruk, and Solium.

Well over 20 Italian plaues were definitely destroyed to-day, and several others probably destroyed. The R.A.F. lost four fighters, but it is not yet known if the pilots also have been lost. In all the extensive bombing raids, three British machines were lost, these being a bomber, a fighter, and a reconnaissance plane.

Ships of the Royal Navy continue their bombardment of the fleeing Italians and of Italian ports. For the first few days they were unmolested by either Italian planes or warships, but later an attempted attack from the air ou one unit was frustrated, the planes being driven off.