BROKEN MORALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23860, 10 January 1941, Page 7

BROKEN MORALE

GARRISON OF BARDIA LAUNCHING THE ASSAULT PRECISE MOMENT CHOSEN British Wireless LONDON, Jan. 8 The existence of factors of great military interest, which redound considerably to the ability of Genera! O'Connor in choosing the precise moment for the attack on Bardia, account, in the opinion of informed commentators, for the Italians' swift surrender. I lie Bardia garrison, they point out. consisted partly of fresh, untried troops and partly of the remnants of the two Black Shirt divisions, which suffered a humiliating defeat at Sidi Barrani and Solium. These latter elements were tired and dispirited, and undoubtedly infected the remainder of the garrison ith their own depression. Caught In A Trap Tins probably increased when, immediately afterward, the whole area was surrounded by Imperial forces, and the Italians must have realised that it was impossible for them to be relieved or to cut their way out. Such a situation was fruitful for breeding mistrust of their leaders among the troops, who realised that they had been caught in a trap. there followed a three-day bombardment from land, air and sea. Although small compared with the gigantic barrages of the Great War, the troops in the garrison had not had the opportunity to become "broken in" as was the case in 1914-18. Total Casualties Under 600 All these factors tended to create a situation in which Italian morale was on the very point of breaking, and of this General O'Connor took full advantage in launching his attack at the critical moment, with the expected result of destroying the enemy army at but small cost to his own troops. A Cairo communique says the total of British and Australian casualties incurred in the capture of Bardia was less than 600. CAVALRY CHARGE EIGHT MEN ROUT 40 LONDON, Jan. 8 The Khartoum correspondent of the Daily Mail supplies evidence of the activities of Allied forces in another African theatre of war. Eight Free French cavalrymen were trotting along a road between Gallabat and Kassala, near the junction of Abyssinia and Eritrea, when <!0 Italian cavalrymen bounded round e corner. The Italians reined in when they saw tho Frenchmen, who drew their swords and charged, routing the Italians. Four Italians were killed and eight captured. GERMANS ABUSIVE LONDON, Jan. 8 The Times correspondent on the German frontier says a conspicuous feature of the German press is concerted and abusive attacks on leading British statesmen for their statements on the Bardia victory. These statements are described as "wilfully misleading and exaggerating the significance of a partial success in North Africa while under-estimating the strength of Italian military power." ITALIANS CLAIM GLORY British Wireless LONDON, Jan. 8 The Italian official news bureau states, according to the Borne radio, that "Bardia will be considered by the whole world as one of the most glorious episodes for the Italians." ,