DESERT CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24506, 15 January 1941, Page 7

DESERT CAMPAIGN

SHELLING OF TOBRUK ATTACKERS MASSING tINAL ASSAULT IMMINENT '/ : - \" -^ •-■>■•■■" - \ ""• (By,Wireless) y . . v ;. / - " ' LONDON, Jan. 14. ' •.. *,/.. "\' (Received Jan. 14,'at.1U5-p.m.) ~. .. . . "'•* White the British shells continue to drop with monoh famous regularity Into, Toforuk and, the: mechanised units - J ■ '-i;&*•' *M almost without opposition, patrolsthe Libyan Desert. % are to- some extent made ;: r ,' - possible vhj the use of aerodromes which the. Italians-.. -- abandoned W great haste, having no time to render them ■ unseryiceabie. The road between Sidißarrani and Solium, ; ; wreckage which tells graphically: of the . rout of the Italian forces. l'::\ :t--; ADMIT HARD KNOCKS Kteippssible to the truth: from their people for last night the Rome"radiosaid, "Wehayevhad i^.'i^V.^^ , ?^.^?? B f'^. 0l? J' losses have been very considerable - both in men and materials.' is in spite-of the-fact; itliat it was only three days ago that the-Italians announcedi'that'their losses were,only 357 men. ;: / > : in English, continued: "We are willing to admit the - x:' tactical success scored by * he / British troops were-well organised and their mechanised ' linits were superior .to, those of the Italians, Thebroad- ;, ' cast concluded:; 'VWe: a« ;qo»t« prepared' to take'/off our hats to the British." ~ v ' -it is understood that the .Italian' forces' holding the Jarabub ' i-dasis 'are now; cut off., The Strength of the besieged force is not - faiown/but it is believed to'.be large; ;