Earlier Messages

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 5

Earlier Messages

BRITISH ARMY POURING INTO LIBYA RUGBY, Jan. 2. A report from Cairo states that Bardia shows no sign of activity, and the Italians are allowing the British to continue their operations without hindrance. Reinforcements, supplies and munitions for the attack against the Italians in Libya continue to pour Jay and night along the 350-mile road from Cairo, says a correspondent, who was told by one New Zealand lorry-driver that he had done three journeys, each of 200 miles, without rest and would probably make a fourth. The apirit of the British lighting men is wonderful, despite the fact that they have been living for three weeks on oullybeef and other hard tack, The R.A.F. is gaining some striking successes over Libya, sometimes at odds of fifteen to oue. The British on Christiuus Day occupied Adirno aerodrome, from which most attacks by the Italians have been delivered. The Italians are now forced to use aerodromes west of Tobruk, such as Benghazi, T ini mi and Derna, all of which the K.A.F. is steadily muking more uncomfortable.

There is nothing to report on the Other fronts.

Discussing the Libyan theatre of war, military circles in Loudon state tint the preparations round Bardia are still proceeding, and these include patrol activity to tne north and north-west oi the town. It is pointed out that the Italian forces are not concentrated within the small area covered by Bardia, but on the heights around the town for a radius of between live and seven miles included in the Italian defensive system. No general attack on the enemy position has yet been started. The United Dress correspondent has described the scene from the top of the escarpment overlooking Bardia. lie says that across the desert are pouring columns of Allied tanks, guns, lorries and supplies, which set up clouds of dust and sand.

The sandstorms have been more troublesome to the Allied troops than even the Italian guns and bombs. At times there is a curtain of sand so thick that it is easy to wander into the Italian lines by mistake. Air lighting in this area has increased during thi past few days. Agency messages toll of a heavy bomuardment of Bardia from sea and from land. The British United Dress correspondent with the army in Libya says that the bombardment resulted m spectacular duels. The Italians attempted to reply to the heavy fire of the British naval guns out in the Mediterranean, but were quite unable to get tbo range. The Allied laud .forces added to the barrage. V. gun* captured in tlie bidi Bar-

rani assault have now been counted and total 329. They include 20 heavy guns and 48 light anti-aircraft guns.