Jan. 24.
In the forty-four days which have elapsed since the British commenced their onslaught upon the. Italian troops, which had established positions, inside the Egyptian border, they have succeeded in driving the enemy back approximately 240 miles. to Derma where British advance forces are now stated to be, and have captured Sidi Barrani, Bardia, and now Tobruk. Between 20,000" and 30,000 prisoners have been take! with large quantities of material and stores at Tobruk bringing, the total number of Italian and Italian colonial troops. put out of action to about 185,000. In other words two-thirds of Marshal Graziont's. alleged mighty army have bboen, put out of business, and the way cleared fora further advance towards Benghazi. Thus again has been proved the wisdom of Mr, Churchill's policy during last autumn of maleing every preparation for an attack upon the Italians, during a period when his critics were clamouring for action. He is con sequently justified. in his remark that he endured their taunts silently because he knew Jarge, and daring measures had already been taken Which now have their fruits, tis but natural that the enemy shoutd seek minitnize this third important victory. 'The: German news agency states that "According to military exports the town of Tobruk Is of no importance in. the defence of Cyrenaica, but would, however, be a danger to the British' flank." To waste a force of between 20,000 and 30,000 men in holding a position which could only possess a nuisance value, may be food generalship from the enemy point of view though it can hardly commend itself to commanders who do not regard their men merely as so much cannon fodder. It ig interesting to note that the Italians in Mobruke offered rather more resistance than at Sidi Barrani, and Bardia, though the fact that -the -town' was captured after only a few. hour's fighting does not suggest that even then \it was very great. The conclusion to: drawn is: that the Australians and other uhitsinthe British and Allied forces are proving just a little too tough for the enemy.
What is.an amazing feature of the whole situation is that for the past six weeks Marshal. Graziani has apparently made no real endeavour to stop the British advance. 'The fact that they have been able to push on beyond Tobruk as far as Demo, without meeting anything in the nature of' effective Yesistance, suggests more of an Italian rout than anything else. It cannot be argued that Marshal Graziani has been retreating for the purpose of luring the British into a posi tion where an Italian counter-attack might have some chance of success, for it is quite clear that, with the very substantial reduction of the forces at his disposal, he is in, no condition {o attempt a countor-offensive. Indeed in Libya as in north-eastern Africa the British have seized the initiative, and by forceful aggressive measures have definite~ ly removed the Italian threat to the Suez Canal: which was Marshal Graziani's main objective. Italy has failed in northern Africa and the British may confidently be expected to write "Finis" to Italian hopes on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.
This has been largely due to the fact that the British Navy has at all times maintained control of the Italian mare nostrum. Sup~ plies: have been -convoyed through that sea without any very great hindrance. Naval units have been able to protect the British right flank and assist in destroying the enemy fleeing along the coastal road west= wards..At Sidi Barrani, Bardia and now! Tobruk they have been able to pour shells into the enemy positions in a manner which has greatly assisted the British and forces, and though the Germans are now going to ithe assistance of the Tialians it fs more than ikely that that help has arrived {oo late. The reinforcing and re-equipment of the tattered remnants of Marshal Graziani's! forces will remain practically impossible long. as the British Navy is in the Mediter-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.