THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 6, 1941.
AUSSIES WORK TO TIME-TABLE
Go Through Defences Of Bardia Like Express Train
Carry Everything
Before
Them
(By Reuter's Special Correspondent at British Headquarters in the
Western Desert)
THE AUSTRALIANS, BACKED UP BY BRITISH ARMOURED FORCES, DASHED THROUGH BARDIA LIKE AN EXPRESS TRAIN; THEY CARRIED OUT PERFECTLY TO TIME-TABLE THE OPERATIONS PLANNED BY THEIR COMMANDERS.
ITALY WARNED OF NEW BLOW
The time-table was prepared at advanced headquarters near the Libyan frontier. Each stage of the attack was worked out in the minutest detail and all were carried out in ac- cordance with the most optimistic hopes.
During the past fortnight guns, ammunition, water and petrol have been streaming up to the front, and then for two nights and one day a tho- rough plastering of the port by the Navy and R.A.F. | prepared the way for a land attack at dawn on Fri-
day.
At the crack of dawn the Aus-
out
More than a hint that things are not going too tralians, protected by tanks, went well around Bardia for the in on the western side of the peri- meter of Bardia's defences, rough- Fascists was made in ally opposite the port, spread broadcast over Rome south-eastwards and attacked the Radio late yesterday afternoon by Signor An» saldo, Mussolini's "No. 2 mouth-piece."
"To-day's communique states that the battle of Bardia con- tinues," said Signor Ansaldo.
"Is it still continuing while we are speaking?
"It is possible that in spite of the loss of these outposts our men are still holding the enemy.
"it le also possible that our mon have been forced to yield to the enormous concentration of men and material Wavell has
massed on the Cyrenaica front. "Efforts to minimise enemy suc- cesses we do not like.
"If Bardia falls, it will be a new British success →→ local, if you like
but still a consi- derable one and a sad piece of
Reuter, news for us."
defenders from the rear and flank, A day and a half of fighting sufficed to mop up the on tire southern half of the defences, except for a clump in the *x- treme south-east corner where the terrain is rocky and inter-
ITALIAN
ARMY'S
Firemen, muddied. with their night's labour, refreshed with tea by nuns of a convent in South West London that was hit' by Nazi bombs. (Copyright, Fox).
GALLANTRY BAR TO
PATH OF OF THE
HITLER TROOPS
SPEAKING YESTER - DAY AFTERNOON THE CHAN-
Military commentators CELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,
KINGSLEY WOOD, REFER-
PROBLEM in London recall Libya RED TO THE CHEERFUL FOR
sected with small ravines, In Italian soldiers captur which some of the defenders ed by the Greeks fre
wore taking refuge,
The speed of these operations quently break into songs was astonishing but even astonishing is
more which are loudly cheered the fact that the same period has been sufficient to by their comrades.
clean up the northern half of the defences.
The special correspondent of the Athens newspaper "Ehtnos" makes this statement in the course of an article when he discusses the ques- tion whether or not Italian sold- iers can fight.
was declared "part of the TITUDE AND DOGGED ENDUR- ANCE AND GRIT OF THE. BRI- national territory of TISH PEOPLES IN GREAT CI- AND VIL- Italy" by decree in Jan-TIES, IN TOWNS uary, 1939.
LAGES WHICH, HE SAID, HAD BEEN ADMIRED-- OVER THE They also drew attention to WORLD. persistent stories, all of which They had shown, however crim state that General Graziani want-inal and inhuman the attacks to that ed to evacuate Bardia some time which they were subjected; ago and would have done so but they would never bend or break. It is this country, Sir Kingsley for orders from the Duce.
Military experts point out that added, that blocks- Germany's wBY) evil ambition if this was the true intention of that defeats her men in a position in which they and upon which rests the main were faced
with either capture responsibility for the defence of or death and which it was not civilised Europe and all that de His conclusion is that Italijan
intended to make any real at- .soldiers.can fight but that
cency stands for in the world. the
The Allies were fighting, for present war simply does not in tempt to relieve constitutes what
can only be regarded as a crime great things-liberty, justice, and spire them.
by any soldier.
itself. British Wire- civilisation
Not A Barrier One deep ravine, named Waddi Gerfan, cuts almost clear across. the circle of defences westwards from Bardia, forming a natural barrier against tanks, but it was no barrier to the Australians,
They simply charged across it, pouring bullets from their guns.
dash Despite the courage and with which the Australians
car-
He says that officers who gain- ried out the action it is understooded their rank prior to the advent that their casualties were not of Fascism ure profoundly dis- heavy.
tressed at the reverses suffered by In addition to 15,000 prisoners the Italian arms and consider. Fas- The German news agency the British are now in possession cism responsible for their humil- quotes him as saying: "What of almost all the guns with which iations. over the fate of Bardia may be, Bardia was defended, together at whatever hour It may fall with stores and ammunition.
"Source Of Pride"
Ansaldo was preparing the Ila- lian public for news of the fall of Bardia.
dera call for the thanks of all Italians,"
He added that the defence of Bardia by General Berganzoli for 20 days was a source of pride to Italy.
Faith Lacking
the heroic deeds of her defen- Main Forward Base
The younger officers, imbued As the town is cleaned up it is with the fanatic spirit of Fascism, probable that other stores will be found, because the port was Gra-do their best but without success to prevent captured rankers from ziani's main forward base for the
expressing their views. Egyptian-Libyan frontier. Bardia, he continued, was not The problem of what to do with a fortress, It was merely equip. the thousands of prisonera is much ped with entrenchments, and easier for the British authorities that the Italians held out was to solve now than last time, for an due solely to their heroism. organisation has been established Ansaldo stated that the military behind the lines to enable prison- results of the defence were clear-ers to be rapidly dealt with. ly recognised. It had stopped the
Reserve officers with whom the correspondent. spoke. ax?
of the ordinary, soldiers. "Generally speaking,'
the cor-
respondent concludes, "faith and
Military circles accord a full measure of praise to the Italian troops for the gallantry they have shown when they knew they vain. were being sacrificed in a endeavour to save Mussolini's Wire- waning prestige.--British less.
GRUESOME CRIME ALLEGED
less,
R.A.F. OPERATIONS
An R.A.F. communique from the Middle East states: "During the night of January 3/4 and throughout Saturday bomber air- ç^ craft of the R.A.F, continued 10 attack incessantly enemy aero- dromes in eastern Libya,
One gun position. received a direct hit and was silenced.
on During a subsequent raid Saturday night, when several tons
pressed views similar to those A gruesome discovery was made on Friday night in Macao, when a police of bombs were dropped on mill-
Chinese pedestrian and with accompanying large fires officer stopped a ragged tary objectives, our aircraft ob- served violent explosions at Bardia searched the gunny bag caused by earlier raiding. which was, slung across his back.
English offensive and given Italian simple by the willingness of the pletely lacking among Italian of The problem is also made more elan appear to be: qualifies com- troops in Libya time to rallymafority of the Italians to be cap-fcers and mon."-Reuter. Reuter.
PREMIER'S THANKS
tured.
The more northern half of the defences of Bardia is believed. to Include a number of Itailans who.. already participated in the retreat from Fort Capuzzo and Bidi Barrani,
These men are understood
to:
MR: WINSTON CHURCHILL have been disheartened by their HAS SENT A CONGRATULATM experiences and immediately sur- TORY MESSAGE TO THE Aus rendered when the Australians TRALIAN PREMIER ON THE were sighted at Bardia. "MAGNIFICENT MANNER IN WHICH THE AUSTRALIAN. OFFENSIVE AGAINST BARDIA. HAS OPENED."
Mr. Churchill adds. "The: plero- ing of the western cector and the capture of at least 5,000 prison-. ers in itself constitutes a fine feat of arms and is, I trust and believe, the prelude to greater success," Reuter...
even
CRICKET IN INDIA
THE AUSSIE COMMANDER
FRENCH
MISSION BOMBED
In the bag were the arms, and legs, of a human being. **
The man refused to make any statement at, first but later, broke down and, it is alleged; confessed that he had killed his wife, with a, choppen in the early hours of
(SPECIAL. TO: "CHINA: MAIL") | New Year's Day).
The jetty and harbour. were the main objectives at Bomba
and. bombs fell well in the target area.”...”
British Wireless
LOSSES IN
THE AIR
It is alleged that the man cut· DURING THE WEEK ENDED A
FRENCH MISSIONARY up the body. The trunk had been MIDNIGHT, ON SATURDAY THE CHURCH IN KUNMING WAS thrown into the sea
GERMAN ..... LUFTWAFFE; · IN AMONG THE MANY - BUILD- He was on his way to get rid RAIDS OVER BRITAIN, LOST INGS DESTROYED, BY, JAPAN- of the arms and legs when he was THREE BOMBERS, ONE ON THE ESE BOMBERS YESTERDAY. searched by the policeman.
NIGHT. OF FRIDAY/SATURDAY A fleet of nine bombers escorted.
AND TWO DURING SATURDAY. by some fighters reached Kunming;
The British lost one fighter on Saturday? who at 11:30 am, and were kept high commands the division, of Aus- by Chinese AA batteries,
The bombs were dropped. In tralians, part of which under-
Major-General Mackay,
It is believed that the man is mentally, unbalanced. — Our Own Correspondent.
VICEREINE'S FUND
During the same period eight British bombers failed to return from the heavy raids on Germany, took the operations resulting in the north-east part of the city, re the surrender of 15,000 Italians, sulting in buildings being demo-
two on the night of Dec. 28/29, |two on the night of: Dec, 28/30, Led by the Maharajah of in the Bardia area, is head-lished and a number of casual- Patiala, the Viceroy's XI (302 and master of Cranbrook School, ties.
The two junior Maharanis of two on Dec. 31, one on the night 189 for 7) beat the Bengal Sydney.
The alarm was lifted at 3 pm-Nepal have contributed 6,000 of Jan. 2/3 and one, on the night He Governor's XI, led by C. K.
rupees each, to the Vicereine's of Jun. 3/4 was in command of the Our Own Correspondent, 123) Nayudu (364 and
in a Fourth Battalion of Australian: ~
Fund for the purchase of am- One German plane was maal in aid of war, funda, at infantry from 1910 to 1918-and the middle cf. 1918. British bilances, says Reuter, from. New down while trying, to, intercepts
Delhi:
||Reuter, Calcutta yesterday. Reuter. the First Infantry Brigade from Wireless.
shot