ITALIAN FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 August 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN FORCES

CENCENTRATED IN EASTERN LIBYA FIRST PHASE OF OPERATIONS OVER. ANTICIPATION OF ENEMY ATTACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright > (Received This Day. 9.45 a.m.) CAIRO, August 6. It is officially announced that the Italians have assembled a large force in the Menastir-Bardi area, in eastern Libya, and have hung to Fort Capuzzo, in order to cover this concentration. The first phase of operations in the western desert is finished. During the operations a small British force has completely dominated the eastern Libyan frontier against a greatly numerically superior Italian force. The Italians on this front have lost 818 prisoners, including a general. 16 guns, 15 tanks and 65 vehicles, in addition to several hundred killed and wounded. The complete Brtish confidence contrasts with the Italian hesitation and lack of confidence. Now the second phase is beginning. An Italian attack must be expected, and we are ready to meet it. ROME REPORT (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) ROME, August G. A communique states: —“There have been two Italian victories during the past twenty-four hours. Firstly, in a dogfight over Malta, when one British plane was brought down. The Italians returned intact. Secondly, in a skirmish beyond the Cyrenaican frontier, an Italian advance routed the enemy. Two enemy tanks were destroyed and two abandoned.'’ SUEZ CANAL MAIN ENEMY OBJECTIVE. ACCORDING TO MILAN PAPER. (Received This Day. noon.) MILAN, August G. The “Corriere Della Serra" states that the Suez Canal is the main objective of the Italians on the Egyptian frontier. A general advance has begun against the British front in Egypt. Kenj’a and the Sudan.