A BREAK-THROUGH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 6

A BREAK-THROUGH

ITALIAN LINES IN DESERT PIERCED Picked Troops Thrown Against Enemy DRIVING OF A FORMIDABLE WEDGE

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11th December, 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, 10th December. Smashing through the Italian lines in the Western Desert British armoured units by to-night were reported to have cut off part of two Italian divisions at Sidi Barrani, driving a formidable wedge between them and the troops further west and they have engulfed several small camps. The Italians are reported to be resisting strongly at some points, but the British appear to be retaining the initiative. Bright moonlight helped the British to bring up supplies and strengthen their positions at night. Fighting continues throughout the day along a 30-mile front forming the right flank of the Italians occupying Sidi Barrani. Prisoners captured are reported to exceed 4000. The area occupied by the enemy forms an equilateral triangle of which the points are Sidi Barrani, Maktila and Nibeiwa, fifteen miles south from Sidi Barrani. While the Royal Navy bombarded one side of the triangle, armoured units, supported by infantry, attacked the other two sides. Picked British, New Zealand, Australian and Indian troops were thrown against the Italians in the Western Desert, reports the ‘ Daily Mail’s” Cairo correspondent. New Zealand airmen manned some of the planes which bombed and machine-gunned the Italians to cover the British attack. The news of the attack has aroused tremendous enthusiasm in Cairo where General Sir Archibald Wavell is regarded as having struck while the iron was hottest. American newspapers headline Britain s success.