FINAL ASSAULT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21303, 23 December 1940, Page 7

FINAL ASSAULT

BARDIA SURROUNDED BATTERING BY BRITISH EARLY CAPTURE LIKELY {United Pres* AMD.—Ftec. Tel. Copyright* LONDON, Dec. 22 | The British forces have completely 1 surrounded Bardia, and are preparing for the final assault. The Italian rearguards at Bardia is ! still resisting, but British trooDs are | astride the main Bardia-Tobruk road, while guns command the remaining coastal road along which Italians are still escaping. It is believed the occupation of the port cannot be long delayed. There was a very clear indication that the evacuation by the Italians was nearly complete when British bombers paid their usual visit to Bardia on Friday night, and did not encounter antiaircraft fire. The pilots saw a ship blazing in the harbour. Reports from the desert yesterday stated that British forces comprising an inner circle of mobile units, with infantry and guns in support, surround the entire area of Bardia with a perimeter of about 15 miles running round the top of a high cliff with Bardia below. The main defences. and also the bulk of the enemy forces are situated on the top of the cliff inside fairly formidable fortifications, including a large number of strongpoints in which are machine-gun nests, concrete pillboxes, land mines and other concealed defences. These naturally call for a certain amount of care, but the British are not hurrying, because th*» Italians are undoubtedly securely bottled up. The size of the garrison is not known for certain, but the British are still convinced there is no hope of their being reinforced. > Nightmare of Blood and Flame The Italian General Berti is struggling to get the garrison from Bardia along a road which the Royal Air Force is making a nightmare of blood, flame and metal. Relays of aeroplanes leave the desert airfields at intervals all days to ensure that the strafing is maintained at the highest pitch. A pall of smoke hangs over Bardia, providing proof of the effectiveness of the Navy’s bombardment. which can be heard from the British camps. The town is almost a comp , ete wreck. The Royal Air Force is giving special attention to the Italian communications, and the slightest sign of movement brings up flights of fighters which play havoc with troop concentrations and transport columns. British bombers are also unremittingly attacking Bardia. especially the barracks and jetty, in order to prevent reinforcement from the sea. Hundreds of Prisoners Taken A British headquarters communique states: “While the enemy troops holding the Bardia defences are being harassed by artillery fire, our forces, which continue to be reinforced, are clearing areas to the north-west and west. An additional 000 Italian prisoners and four guns have been captured.” The Daily Telegraph’s Cairo correspondent says British reinforcements sent to support the siege of Bardia are believed to include fresh troops from Egypt. It is believed that Italian troop* trapped at Bardia number nearly 20,000. The British military spokesman last night said: “The Italians are in a tight corner. Our preparations are proceeding to our utmost satisfaction.” BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS INFLUX IN BARDIA AREA MORE GUNS CAPTURED (omclil wireless) (Received Dec. 23, noon) RUGBY, Dec. 22 A Cairo communique states that reinforcements are steadily reaching our troops in the Bardia area. A further seven guns have been collected from enemy frontier posts which we recently occupied. Conditions are unchanged on other fronts. INDIANS IN MIDDLE EAST VISIT BY PRIME MINISTER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 23. noon) LONDON, Dec. 22 According to Cairo agency messages the Prime Minister of the Punjab has arrived in order to visit Indian troops in the Middle East.

“SIMPLY RAN AWAY” MARSHAL SMIGLY-RYDZ FORMER POLISH COMMANDER (United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) BUCHAREST. Dec. 20 The former Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, Marshal SmiglyRydz, has escaped. The Gestapo and Rumanian police are hunting for

him and have closed all ports. It is officially stated that Marshal Smigly-Rydz simpl yran av/ay from the former monastery in the village of Tasmana, in the Carpathian foothills, where he has been confined since he was arrested in his house. After escaping from Poland on the defeat of the Polish Army by the invading Germans, Marshal SmiglyRydz was interned in Rumania rn September 25, 1939. MIXED COMMISSIONS siaW ar ITALY, JAPAN, GERMANY CARRYING OUT PACT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) BERLIN, Dec. 21 Italy, Japan and Germany are establishing at Berlin, Rome and Tokio three mixed commissions, political, military and economic, to carry out the Tripartite Agreement. NEW REGULATIONS NAZIS IN POLAND INTERNATIONAL LAW VIOLATED (Omclal Wireless) RUGBY, Dec. 20 A damning indictment of Germany’s violation of international law is provided in an official statement by the Polish Government, dealing with new regulations issued by the Nazis in Poland. One of these, defining who is to be regarded as a Pole in territories incorporated into the Reich, recognises as non-Polish all the masses of Polish citizens inhabitating Silesia, Pommorze and Gdansk, even though they are of Polish origin. This regulation, it is declared, brutally violates international law and, in particular, the Hague Convention of 1907 x which was signed by the Reich itself. Another regulation imposes on all persons engaged in public duties, not only the obligation to fulfil public ciuties faitnfully and conscientiously in obedience to the German administration, but also the obligaj tion not to regard themselves as I bound by any oath of allegiance or ' service to the Polish State or its j organs. GREAT PART IN WAR COASTAL COMMAND PLANES (United Pres? As«n.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 20 I Coastal Command planes in the I first year of the war flew 14.000,000 I miles in 106,000 hours, escorted 50.000 1 ships, attacked 160 submarine, and | were responsible for saving 250 lives I from torpedoed or mined ships.