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THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 18, 1940.
DIFFICULT TO KEEP PACE WITH BRITISH ADVANCE
(By Reuter's Military Commentator)
THE SITUATION IN LIBYA is developing fast and presents new vistas to the British so rapidly that it is difficult to keep pace with events.
General Wavell's moderately phrased bul- letins hardly convey the full sense of the mag- nitude of the Italian disasters.
AUSSIES GOING INTO ACTION
(By Reuter's Special Correspon dent at Advanced Headquarters)
The happiest people in the Western Desert to-day are the Australians. They are now coming into their
own.
I spent to-day dashing along a desert road with some of these bronzed and enthusiastic soldiers whose only complaint about this war until now has been that they lacked a chance, as one lieuten- ant expressed it, "to show our folks that the Anzac of to-day is just as good as his father."
Now they have it
The wave of enthusiasm these fresh troops are carrying with them into the desert Is exactly the tonic noeded by those troops who have been fighting continuously for the past
10
is
The Italians admit fighting taking place round Bardia, which means the British troops must have swept round the tullan Bank again behind the Italian rearguards at Fort Capuzzo and Sollum, and the Italiah retreat is threatened, if not entirely cut off.
With the British capture of Bardia, which may be expected at any moment, the position of all Italian troops, supplies and transport, which must fill that 20 miles of road, is desperate,
They will all be captured, add mg still further to the enormous tally of Italian supplies and equip- "ent
at British hands already. Problem For Cabinet
The problem which General Wavell and the British Cabinet] now have to solve is how to make the most use of the great victory --can we destroy the Italian army
in Libya and take over the whole colony?
that
It is impossible to decide question on present information, beyond saying that all is possible, Can Graziani assemble another army to seek to stay our advance or even to drive us back to Egyptian border?
the
He will lose a
tremendous number of mon but he has lost more important things, namely prestige and morale.
days and whose difficulties are Confidence Destroyed naturally increasing ав they
Further into penetrate territory.
enemy
whole The confidence of the Italian army in Libya has disap- loss of Some of the most cheerful Aus-peared and the enormous
and material must have tralians were riding to the front stores
in five-ton lorries captured from most serious consequences on the the Italians, which had been over- remnants of his army, for none hauled and are proving a useful of these supplies can be replaced.
addition to the Australian force.
troops
Kave
them a
British special cheer as they passed. Reuler.
SUCCESS OF GREEK TACTICS
his as Graziani is severed from main
buse by the British com- mand of the sea.
Besides the very powerful ald which the Fleet can give by shell- ing and bombarding 1,100 miles of coastal road to Tripoli and in- termediate ports, it can enormous- ly aid General Wavell's question of supply by convoying ships into each harbour which falls into our hands as he advances,
Not Tied Down Richard Dimbleby, the| Unlike Graziani the British will BBC observer in Greece, not be tied to one road-Sollum is probably available us a supply has just completed an ex-base by sea to-day-to-morrow it tensive tour of the front! may be Bardia, a few days hence
Tobruk. and reports that the se- The movement northwards cret of the Greek success is due to two main fac- tors:-
Firstly, they give the Italians no rest; and
from Siwa on Tobruk may have a decisive effect on the next British operation-capture of that port.
Thereafter, the Italian demor-
lack of supplies alisation, their and our own difficulties of supply, Secondly, if they do meet with of moving up fresh troops and giv any strong resistance, the Greeks split up into small bodies whiching the troops some well-needed rest so that at all times there will
converge on the Italians from be sufficient troops within reach different points, throwing them of the front to ensure inflicting into a panic. Reuter.
defeat on the Italians should they further any stomach for fighting-all
will these factors undoubtedly influence General' Wavell's plan.--Router.
FOR U.S.A. MORE DESTROYERS
The award of a contract for the construction of 40 additionni destroyers at an estimated cost of over $253,000,000 is announced by Colonel Frank Knox, U.S. Secre tary of the Navy..
He also announces the award of contracts for the expansion of shipbuilding facilities at a cost of over $8,000,000. Reuter
SHA MAO SHAN RETAKEN
show
JOKE LED TO HIS DEATH
A joke on a sentry led to Gun- ner George Peter Klein, twenty- one, of Norman Road, Leytonstone. London, being shot dead, it was suggested at an inquest at Sun- derland when a verdict of Accl- dental death was returned.
An officer said that the mani who fired the shot, Gunner Wil- Shamaoshan; strategic hill in fred Young, explained that when southern Hupch, was recaptured | they were on schtry duty he on December. 14. in. a. furious heard a sound behind him as i Chinese counter-attack which re- somebody had jumped.. Klein sulted in numerous Japanese cas caught the muzzle of Young's sualties, according to a field dis- rifle, and Young's finger acciden patch "from the Hupeh front tally touched the trigger. The jury- Central News.
{:} exonerated Young; RE
PRISONERS "INSURED"
Prisoners of war in Germany are to be in- sured against ac- cident, according to the German News Agency. The
indemnity is
fixed on the basis of the cash allowance paid to the prisoners.
The Order is issued by the German Minis- try of Labour, and it is probable that the ac- cidents contemplated are those occurring when prisoners ore at work.
WOMEN SPOT RAIDERS
Sensational!
Spotting type of enemy 'planes is now a popular pastime among
women in south-east coast towns.
After the sirens have sounded they wait for the drone of the raiders' engines, and, as the 'planes appear, they pick out and count the various kinds. After months in the front line their seaside homes, have whole- these women who have stayed in hearted contempt airmen.
They watch anti-aircraft bal- teries blazing away and follow the progress of dogfights with the enthusiasm of football fans, and when an
enemy hurtling down they cheer
'plane
selves hoarse.
for Goering's
comes them-
To them raido are mora nuisance than something to be feared. They upset the domes. tic routine and shopping plans. They prevent their families getting home at reqular times, and hot meals are spoiled.
RO
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