PREMIER’S ACCOUNT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 5

PREMIER’S ACCOUNT

STATEMENT TO HOUSE OF COMMONS LONG AND RAPID APPROACH ADVANCE ACROSS DESERT [British Official Wireless] Received 11th Dec., 10.40 a.m. RUGBY, 1 oth December. The Prime Minister, .Mr Churchill, in a statement in the House of Commons on the operations in the Western Desert, said: “On the night of 7th December a strong detachment from L.e army at the Nile, under Sir Maitland Wilson, comprising British Imperial troops and a detachment from the Free French Forces advanced towards positions which the Italians have fortified since their incursion across the Egyptian frontier three months ago. It is realised that <he operations of advancing almost in a single bound across 75 miles of desert are by no means free from hazard anc’ complexity when considerable forces are employed and it is therefore with satisfaction that the British Government learned that this long and rapid approach was successfully accomplished. CONTACT WITH ENEMY Yesterday morning, the 9th December, our forces contacted the enemy at various points over a wide front stretching from Sidi Barrani on the coast into the desert. The attack was delivered against positions on the Italian centre to the southward of Sidi Barrani. In the first defended area which was assaulted and overrun 500 prisoners and some war material fell into our hands. The Italian General in command was killed and his second in command captured. Later in the day a further advance was made into a second stronger and more important position nearer the coait. More prisoners and material wer? taken. Other British forces also reached the •oa&t between Sidi Barrani and

Buqbuq, making further captures of transport and prisoners. PRELIMINARY PHASE SUCCESSFUL “It is too soon to attempt to forecast either the scope or result of the considerable operations which are in progress, but we can say that the preliminary phase has been successful. “The British Mediterranean Fleet and the R.A.F. are, of course, co-oper-ating closely. British warships bombarded various coastal positions, including particularly Maktila and Sidi Barrani. On Bth December a heavy attack was made by bombers on the enemy aerodrome at Benghazi where about 25 tons of bombs were dropped effectively on hangars and enemy aircraft. During the same night air attacks were made on Italian advanced aerodromes in a prelude i the morning action and throughout yesterday bombers continually harassed Italian advanced aerodromes, while fighters, Hurricane squadrons begin conspicuous, made low-flying machine-gun attacks on troops and motor transport causing substantial losses.” GREATER FEELING OF SECURITY Mr Churchill said the sudden colic pse of France had made the task of ceiending Egypt one of extreme difficulty, but by the time of Mr Eden’s visit reinforcements of men and material had given a greater feeling of security and opened the possibility of the assumption of the offensive. Further delay “in the execution of the offensive plans which had been matured,” was, however, necessitated by the air assistance sent to Greece. The Prime Minister added that the part played by the R.A.F. in the Greek victories had been most important and they had received the warmest expressions of gratitude from the Greek King for the aid they had been able to give. By the beginning of Decemb - the British air forces in Egypt were once again in a position to afford the necessary support to the army in a forward movement.