THE WAR

Patea Mail, 6 January 1941, Page 2

THE WAR

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS PENETRATE BARDIA DEFENCES The Australian troops in Libya havcM penetrated the outer defences of Bar-® dia for a distance of 2 miles over a 9 - mile front. Tanks 'went through the oarbed wire entanglements aud were followed by the Australians in armoured vehicles. The Italian >s were taken by surprise ’ and surrendered en masse, §OOO being taken prisoner. The British are now in possession of the outer defences of Bardia. The Monitor ship “Terror" with its io inch guns shelled the Italian concentration of armoured cars and tanka that had been got ready for a counter-, attack and prevented any such afiack being made. There was no attempt by Dalian aircraft to interfere with, tin British operations. Theism cess of the battle was due not only to the fighting spirit of the troops but to the caver ally prepared strategic plan. - The casualties were comparatively few. THE NAVY ASSISTS T ' ITALIAN SHIP SUNK ; While the attack on the outer defences Bardia was proceeding British destroyers entered the harbour and sank an Italian ship there. Another vessel having 9 British prisoners on board was captured, and after a prize crew bad been put on board was escorted out of the harbour. BRITAIN’S'REVENUE " BREMEN BOMBED Britain has had her revenge for the bombing of London and other English town s by bombing the. port of Bremen three days in succession and leaving the pent in a mass of flames. Bremen is a large ship-building centre where the famous liner Bremen was built and for some time past the shipyards there have been busily engaged in building submarines. ' . WAR- (NEWS UN BRIEF The Greek s have had more, local successes and captured 201 Italian officers and men, as well as a quantity of material. and weapons. - A Greek submarine Jias sunk an armed Italian tanker. -Germany is renewing pressure on France. Mr. Do Valera has been warned of si German invasion by a fellow Irishman residing in America. FIFTH REINFORCEMENT LOCAL MEN LEAVING The following members of the Fifth Reinforcement from thi s district leave for camp to-day, i Patea men for Trentham J. F. Byrne, J, Gray, S. V. Howells, R. Minton, E. j; Richards, F. Wallace, F. Williams. Waverley nien for Trentham: G. P. Irving R. I. Lupton, R. J. Malam, L. H. Stewart. A Patea men for Burnham (same train): R. J. Campbell, G. D. Oakley, L. G. Putt. Waitotara men for Burnham (same train): W. A. Hunt, 1., S. Peachey. Patea men for Maori Battalion at Papakura, to leave by evening mail train: J. Davis, W. Davis. Waitotara men for Maori Battalion (same train): Karipo, Wiri.