Cairo, Jan. 23.
'A large number of Mahan guns, many thousands of prisoners, as well as large quantities of ammunition and transport have already been captured by British Imperial forces in their brilliant attack on Tobruk, the fall of which was officially announced in London late last night.
'Australians took gunnery stron; holds In the centre of the town, At the same time, armoured divisions, Including free 'French forces, held the garrison to the west of the town. 'Two large ships lo burning in Tobuk' Harbour, There was no sign of Mahan air~ trait during the entire operations Over the perimeter.
British casualties are stated to be very low though fighting is in pro-grees In the strecty of Tobruk and {in the western section of the outer 'A. number of Italian units capitulated when taken {rom the rear, but itis learned that Itallon resistance had been stronger than might have been implied from the speedy British penetration. of the defences. The Hallans certainly fought harder than they: did at Bardia."
"Tobruk contained at least one divi sion with a small element of another division, also permanent garrison troops and heavy additional artillery. Forees eliminated comprise the equivalent of eight Blackshirt, of Metropolitan, divisions and three Libyan divisions Warning to waders 'Some Australian wounded walking past" writes Routers' Special Corres-Pondent, "shouted: Look out, mate, You will cop it further down the frack" They were right. Half a mile on we narrowly escaped a bar~ Fae from enemy gun positions still phon I witnessed a terrible sight one T shall long remember. Thous ands of Iallan prisoners storming back were caught in a barrage from their own guns. Shells burst among them, killing many, wounding others. The remainder dashed in all direc ti "Arriving at gun position, which had been their frst objective, T found that the Australians, true to their type, had got there alead of schedule and taken them in two hours instead of in four hours, as planned by the Start, Many yuns had received direct Mls from the British artillery.
lough the Ttalian ammunition was dated 1938, 1 noted that most of the guns were built in 1939.
"As we paused at this point, a spotter plane, which had been inflefatigably fying over the baltlefeld since dawn, roared down, dropped a message and. then slowly climbed again. As she rose, -anti-aireraft shells dotted the sky all round her.
Plan of Operations, "Standing on a captured ridge. learned from a sunburnt brigadier details of the plan of operations. Ahead to the west, lay the strongly fortified camp of Pilastrino, but the Imperial troops had been ordered to ignore this and to put out of action two ports, old oman strongholds, lying behind Tobrule and completely encircling the harbour itself.
"While antivaireraft shells burst above us and R.A.F. bombers circled over the ports, the brigadier told me: We mean to get these two frst. Pilastrino will then be cut off and Useless. The only concern T have to know that the cruiser San Giorgio is in harbour without knowing the exact formality for capturing an Ttalsan admiral, 'T fought inthe last War and captured Lieutenant-generals RAP. Busy Over Abyssinia London, Jan. 23, Concentrated and. reposted British att action in Abyssinia with the ¢2- operation. of Abyssinian patriots. Soginning to have a devastating effect, Behind "the Hallam lines, cables the "Dally Mait's" special correspondent at Khartoum.
the present trend continues, the next few months may see a sudden track. in the Tlalion' resistance. in "The latest evidence of the RAs ower in breaking. Wallan moral is Thown by the sequel fo a Fecent mass daylight raid on the important Talien Sare of Dangbila, in the province of Giosjom, north-west" Abyssinia.
squadron, of large planes part: cipated,, nonchalantly circling "over the. town while leisurely. blasting Dbjectives, and returned without toss.
Wihin 12 hours halt of the thou sands of Bandaitvegular Levies—Smpleyed by the Hallans at Gojjam find deserted to villages or patriot Review of New Army Reuter's Special Correspondent with Abyssinian Fores Somewhere Inthe Sudan Jan. 23.
The first contingent of regular troops in the new Abyssinian Army was formally entrusted by Emperor Haile Selassie on Wednesday morning to. the leadership of @ young Australian amicer. Vultures "were hireling overhead when the Emperor, fSceompanied by the Crown Prince, the Duke of Harrar, arrived on the parade ground) where the troops Were drawn up, each platoon headed by. an Australian sergeant, "After inspecting the "khaki-clod warriors with their British rifles and equipment, the Emperor addressed hom on the take entrusted to them under their Australian commander, exhorting them to drive the invader from their country.
"It is understood the contingent will shortly commence 2 difficult march [miles into the heart of Abyssinia faking camels Jaden with dynamite and bombs in order to blow up. bridges and roads.
The Australian officers and noncommissioned officers in charge are! li volunteers and have been speci-lly trained for the {ask ahead Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.