1940-12-18 — Page 41

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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

The Italians admit fighting. is taking place round Bardia, which means the British troops must have swept round the Italian flank again behind the Italian rearguards at Fort Capuzzo and Sollum, and the Italian 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, adct÷ (By Reuter's Special Correspon-ing still further to the enormous dent at Advanced Headquarters) tally of Italian supplies and equip-

The happiest people inment in British hands already. the Western Desert to-day Problem For Cabinet 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 Anzie of to-day is just as good as his father,"

Now they have it,

the

The wave of enthusiasm these fresh troops are carrying with them into the desert in exactly

needed by tonic

those troops who have been fighting 10 continuously for the past days and whose difficulties are j naturally increasing as they penetrate

territory.

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?

It is impossible to decide that present information, question on beyond saying that all is possible.

Can Graziani assemble another army to seek to stay our advance or even to drive us back to the Egyptian border?

He will Тобе а

tremendous number of men but he has lost more important things, namely prestige and morale. Confidence Destroyed

The confidence of the whole further into enemy Italian army in Libya has disup- peared and the enormous loss of Some of the most cheerful Aus- stores and material must have tralians were riding to the front most serious consequences on the in five-ton lorries uptured from remnants of his army. for none the Itglians, which had been over- of these supplies can be replaced, hauled and are proving a useful as Graziani is severed from his addition to the Australian force.

main base by the British com-

British troops gave them a mand of the sea. special cheer as they passed. Reuter.

SUCCESS OF GREEK TACTICS

Besides the very powerful aid which the Fleet can give by shell- ing and bombarding 1,100 miles of coastal road to Tripoll 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

Unlike Graziani the British will Richard Dimbleby, the not be tied to one road-Sollum is available as a supply

BBC observer in Greece, probably

base by sea to-day-to-morrow it

has just completed an ex-may be Bardia, a few days hence

tensive tour of the front! Tobruk, and reports that the se- cret of the Greek success is due to two main fac- tors:-

•

Firstly, they give the Italians no rest; and

The movement northwarda from Siwa on Tobruk may have a decisive

next effect on the British operation-capture of that port.

Thereafter, the Italian demor alisation, their lack of supplies and our own difficulties of supply, of moving up fresh troops and giv- Secondly, if they do meet withing the troops some well-needed any strong resistance, the Greeks rest so that at all times there will split up into small bodies which be sufficient troops within reach

Italians converge on the

inflicting of the front to ensure different points, throwing them defent on the Italians should they into a panic. Reuter.

show any stomach for further fighting-all these factors will undoubtedly influence General

from

MORE DESTROYERS Wavell's plan-Reuter.

FOR U.S.A.

The award of a contract for the construction of 40 additional 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 38,000,000. Reuter.

SHA MAO SHAN

·RETAKEN T

BRITAIN'S

HOSPITALS

CARRY ON

HIS MAJESTY THE KING YESTERDAY EXPRESSED HIS ADMIRATION FOR THE WAY IN WHICH HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE CARRYING ON DURING THE AIR-RAIDS,

This message was read at the Shamaoshan, strategic hill in annual meeting of the King Ed- southern "Hupeh, was recaptured ward Hospital Fund by the Duke on December, 14 in a furious of Kent, who said that the grants. Chinese counter-stfack which re- | mado by the Fund constituted a sulted in numerous Japanese ca“ | record,,

sunities, accorditig to a field dig The total amount patch from the Hupeh front came to more than £10,000,000 Central News..

1

PRISONERS S "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 gre 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 walt for the drone of the raiders' engines, and, as the 'planes appear, they pick out and count the various kinds. these women who have stayed in After months in the front line their seaside homes, have whole- hearted contempt for Goering's airmen.

They watch anti-aircraft bat- teries blazing away and follow the progress of dogfights with the enthusiasm of football fans, and when an enemy 'plane comes hurtling down they cheer ther- selves hoarse.

a

To them raids are more nulaance 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,

ROA

The finest