BRITISH OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23839, 14 December 1940, Page 11

BRITISH OFFENSIVE

OYER 20,000 PRISONERS TAKEN ITALIANS DRIVEN WESTWARD INDIVIDUAL UNITS' PITCHED BATTLES By Telesrraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 13, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 13 In spite of blinding sandstorms, the Army of the Nile continues its advance toward Libya, driving the retreating Italians through the long, narrow gorge leading through Solium to Bardia. The official spokesman in Cairo stated last night that operations were proceeding most satisfactorily. The offensive is still gathering momentum. It has progressed with such speed that communiques are barely keeping up with the advance. The British forces have now reached a point well to the west of Sidi Barrani. British aircraft and warships are heavily bombing and shelling the retreating Italians. A communique issued by British Headquarters in Cairo yesterday afternoon stated: "In the Western Desert our advanced troops are in contact with the Italian forces, which are continuing their withdrawal westward. Meanwhile the clearance of the battlefield is progressing. Much War Material Also Captured "It is still impossible to give accurate figures, but the latest estimate of prisoners taken exceeds 20,000, with tanks, guns and equipment of all types." It is estimated that Italians destroyed, captured or bottled up number about 40,000, and include many of the crack Blackshirts. Marshal Graziani, the Italian commander, is reported to have withdrawn the Libyan Camel Corps and the Libyan Cavalry from the Western Desert and thrown 1 000 motorised units into action in an effort to halt the British advance. The British forces around Sidi Barrani were occupied yesterday in clearing up the battlefield, extending over 200 square miles. It is now revealed that incessant attacks for weeks by a famous regiment, now mechanised, kept open a gap in the enemy's front position, frustrating attempts to complete the chain of fortified points. The breach was still open on December 9, with the result that a motorised column was able to drive in according to plan. t Tank Crews Fight With Hand Grenades The special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in the Western Desert, says the British attacks developed along a con-stantly-shifting semi-circle with Sidi Barrani as the hub. From the first onslaught the operations developed with bewildering intricacy over the whole tawny, rock-strewn desert, and individual detachments, skirmishing miles into enemy territory, started a series of pitched battles. , It is unofficially reported that there was a terrific series of battles around wells and waterholes. In some wild melees British and Italian tanks and armoured cars became so entangled that the crews leaped from their machines and fought with hand grenades. It is impossible to give a coherent account of the operations Until the reports are collated, but the satisfaction and optimism of desert headquarters is undisguised.