TOBRUK CUT OFF FROM THE COAST ROAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 9, 11 January 1941, Page 5

TOBRUK CUT OFF FROM THE COAST ROAD

BRITISH GRIP TIGHTENING

LIGHT UNITS FORTY MILES TO THE WEST

/By T«i«rraph—Pr«w A«K>eia.Hon—Copyright) Received Jan. 10. 8.30 p.tn. LONDON, Jan. 9. By reaching Gazala. 40 miles west of Tobruk, the British Army of the Nile has ensured that neither reinforcements nor supplies can traverse the coast road to Tobruk. It is premature to say that, the encirclement of Tobruk is completed, but armoured units and light tanks are patrolling the desert plateau west of Tobruk, and the British grip is tightening hourly. New forces are constantly arriving and patrols are systematically sounding the strength of the defences. Raids are assessing every swell and fold of the ground as a future battlefield.

Inactivity of the Italian defences of Tobruk strengthens the belief military observers in Cairo hold that the Italians do not intend to make a determined stand there. Several war correspondents suggest that Tobruk may fall even more rapidly than Bardia. It is believed the Italians will make a stand in the rugged Jebel Akbar Mountains, 100 miles west of Tobruk. Military circles in London believe that only by applying lessons learnt so painfully in France has the British Commander-In-Chief, General, Sir Archibald Wavcll, seen all his operations move so satisfactorily. Because the public does not fully appreciate this, there is a tendency to overlook, in the triumphant shouting about the noteworthy expipits of the land forces, the very vital parts played by British air and sea forces. Large parties of Italian prisoners are despatched from Bardia daily, but no appreciable difference seems to have been made in the huge, dark green masses within the compounds, states a correspondent. When captured many Italians were in a state of exhaustion. The Italian seems to knock up very quickly, but medical officers are amazed at the stoic courage of their wounded in contrast with their conduct for the most part in battle when the pressure is really on.

Successful Air Strategy. The opinion is expressed at the Headquarters of the R.A.F. in the Middle East that the fall of Bardia presents probably the most conclusive proof of the value of the aerial support to the ground forces since the beginning of hostilities, says a British Official Wireless message. The warweary Italian prisoners are now recounting the demoralising effect of the heavy bombing attack during the , last few days, when the R.A.F. pilots . attacked the Bardia defences merci- I lessly. The results of the accurate bombing ; can now be witnessed around the ; fallen town, where few targets of im- 1 portance still stand, although the town i itself is hardly touched. Two Italian Generals who, with fourteen senior officers, were in the i first batch of Bardia prisoners flown i to the Middle East Headquarters, expressed admiration of the skilful way in which the R.A.F. kept their attacks confined to the defences and had not wilfully destroyed the town of Bardia. “No force in the world could have stood up to it,” said one captured officer. An explanation of the weakness ot the enemy' air opposition during the ’ first two days of the battle is in part found in the considerable number of Italian aircraft destroyed on the ground. Forty which the Army have taken at the abandoned aerodrome at El Adem, near Tobruk, were damaged as the result of low dive attacks made on the aerodrome last w'eek. On the third day of the oattle, o:. January 5, says aiy Air Ministry bulletin when the Italian air operations had increased, R.A.F. fighter squad-

! ronsxnd the Australian squadron weli conied the challenge and 19 enemy ■ aircraft were destroyed while one ' British fighter and one bomber were ■ lost. The Kerne radio stated that General Betgonzoli lias not deserted. If he and his immediate officers are missing, it is because he is dead or they risked their lives : in attempting to fight. I The Times ’ special correspondent outside Tobruk states: ‘'From a ridge ; where I am writing I can see British I guns hammering Tobruk's defences. I Italians guns are replying and at times the volume of sound is a regular roar. It is the heaviest, artillery Jiire I have heard in this theatre of l war. 1 "The Italians do not appear to lack 'guns and ammunition, both of which .they are using liberally. Whereas. I during the first days of the siege of [Bardia. aircraft played a principal ;part in an attempt to interfere with it he British approach, here the artilulery is the only enemy arm in evi" ' dence. “The Italian Air Force has completely faded out, and there is no sign other than ground troops.”