With che capture of Tobruk by the British another strongly. forrited Libyan stronghetd" on te coast hes fallen ah over 26 000° loans mouding ye Genera and advance during the past six weeks. the British may pause for a breathing space ter their apectachlar cdr it i level that In that time they have covered "het time, ome 200° miter from Sit Barrant tu Egupt to Tobrik" now. been handed over' to the new patriot army in virtually the whole Vast area west of Lake Tana between the Blue Nile and the River Setit. Italian garrison outposts in this area have found things too hot for them. Furthermore Italian posts in the Jarabub oasis are already becoming short of food and water and their situation Is unenviable.
Tobruk itself Is the frst Itation town Imperial troops have captured with a celvilian population, Normally {olals about 10,000 but apparently the Hallans evacuated the majority of Europeans, leaving Jews and Arabs.
Regarding future operations appears extremely likely that' there will be a pause for breathing space following the spectacular advance of British forces covering over 200 miles in some six weeks, Having broken down Itslian resi tance in 20 hours, cheering Austra-Hans hauled down' the allan flag in the centre of the town and hoisted an Anzac hat. Near the town square stands an imposing barracks shatter ed by bombs and shells after weeks bombardment by the RAP. and Navy.
'The garrison surrendered at 1015 am. on Wednesday. Australian cavalry' regiments in Bren gun car= riers slonned the main road to the town, broke a steel and conerete sandbagged barrier and drove in. They Were met by a couple of bursts of machine-gun fire to which they promptly replied, Then the entire garrison surrendered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.