British Pour In Supplies For Libya Attackl R.A.F. Success

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1941, Page 5

British Pour In Supplies For Libya Attackl R .A .F. S uccess

('Received 31.30 a.m.)

LONDON. January 2. J? ENFORCEMENTS, SUPPLIES AND MUNITIONS FOR THE ATTACK AGAINST THE ITALIANS IN LIBYA ARE STILL POURING DAY AND NIGHT ALONG THE 350 MILES ROAD FROM CAIRO.

One New. Zealand lorry driver told a correspondent that he had done three journeys, each of 200 miles, without rest and would probably make a fourth.

The spirit of the Britishers is wonderful, despite the fact that they have been living for three weeks on bully beef and other hard taek. , ...

The Royal Air Force is gaining striking successes, sometimes at odds at 15 to 1. _ A

Aerodi’omes Occupied,

The British on December 25 occupied the Adimo aerodrome, from which most of the attacks are delivered. The Italians are now forced to use aerodromes west of Tobruk, such as Benghazi, Tmimi and Derna, all of which the Royal Air Force is steadily making, more uncomfortable. The Middle East Royal Air Force communique states that during the night of December 31 and Januai’y 1, Royal Air Force bombers carried but raids on the aerodrome at Tmimi and Gazala. Further raids were made on the same landing grounds yesterday. At Gazala three enemy aircraft were destroyed and a number of others were seriously damaged. Fires, Damage. All the bombs burst in the target area at Tmimi, .causing fires and damage to dispersed aircraft, Bardia was raided last night and while all bombs burst in the objective area, details of the damage were not observed.

Derna was attacked yesterday and one grounded aircraft suffered a dii'ect hit. A number of others were probably damaged.

In Italian East Africa, the Rhodesian air force desti'oyed a number of buildings near Sabberat, while other aircraft of the same squadron carried out a dive bombing attack on enemy positions at Keru, 50 miles east-north-east of Kassala.

Motor transport vehicles were destroyed and one very large lire started.

Bardia Preparations.

Several anti-aircraft guns were silenced.

From all these operations the British aircraft returned safely. Discussing the Libya theatre of war, military circles in London state that preparations roimd Bardia are still proceeding, and these include patrol activity to the north and north-west of the town, says the British Official Wireless.

It is pointed out that the Italian forces are not concentrated in the small area covered by Bardia, but on the heights around the town for a l-adius of between five and seven miles. No general attack on the enemy positions has yet been stai’ted.

Barrage Reaches Climax.

Flying-Offier Rathbone, a member of Pai’liament, who was eai’lier reported missing, is now reported to have lost his life in operations against the enemy. Reports from several reliable quarters indicate that the assault by the Army of the Nile on* Bardia has begun, after careful preparations extending over 15 days, stated an earlier message.

The British general headquarters Cairo communique states that the Italian garrison at Bardia shows no sign of activity, and is allowing the British to continue preparations and concentrations without any interference. There is no change in the situation on other fronts. Captured guns are now being counted over an extensive battle field near Sidi Barrani and during the subsequent advance into Libya. The number is 329, including 20 heavy and 48 light anti-aircraft guns. It is believed that the British artillery and intense naval preparatory barrage reached its climax on Wednesday.

The Rome radio suggests that the battle is already joined.

Daring British Raids.

It adds: “Our troops faced the British artillery fire and aerial bombing with great courage. “We suffered some loss but cannot yet accurately give the developments of the battle,”

Reports from the front indicate that British raids inside Bardia’s outer defences are growing more daring as artillery tears gaps in the barbed wire. An Italian communique admitted two raids, but claimed that they were repelled.

Garrison Cut Off.

In addtion to continuous patrols of the outer defences, the British have occupied a position on the coast about 15 miles north-west of the town, completely cutting off the garrison’s contact by land with the forces to the west.

The Royal Air Force continues to operate on a far greater scale than the communiques reveal.

It is incessantly reconnoitering, either spotting for the artillery or watching for troop movements.

Captures From British?

A Rome communique states that the Italians captured arms, munitions and trucks, abandoned by the British on the battle ground at Jarabub, while on the frontier zone in the Cyrenaica area artillery patrols are active. The “Daily Telegraph” Nairobi correspondent says large groups of discontented Abyssinian tribesmen, numbering many thousands, have now linked up forces along the Kenya border and the interior of southern Abyssinia.

Their raiding forays against Italian camps, armed posts and supply convoys are being planned with the greatest care. Some of their responsible

leaders have established regular contacts with British outposts in Kenya.

Hopeless Position.

The “Daily Mail’s” Cairo correspondent says the British commanders are reckoning with the possibility -that the defenders of Bardia will realise the hopelessness of their position and surrender in time, stated an, earlier message. - h

As the days pass and the big attack is not launched the defenders must know that it will be all the more shattering when it comes. v : Once daily the Italians send out what the British have dubbed the “flying circus,” consisting of about a dozen bombers escorted by a cloud of fighters. r '