LIB shelling of Tobruk, heavily-fortified Italian outpost in northern Libya, was intensified yesterday as fresh British artillery arrived for. the siege.
Flying columns, which cut off the Tobruk-Demo road and isolated Tobruk, were operate ing westwards towards' Benghazi, Italian Libyan headquarters, to prevent. an Italian move-to break through from Tobruk, which now is.completely surrounded.
It appeared yesterday that General Hannibal Berganzoli, Commander of the Ttalian troops at Bardi recently captured Italian, position, fled from the town after he had questioned British prisoners, including an officer and three Australians.
'The Britons told the General a haft-raising tale of British strength. 'This was emphasized by the most terrific naval bombardment since the offensive began, which also was. be-Meved to have' been partly resper sible for the General's desertion.
Another Blackshirt General wh deserted his troops before the capture of Bardia was captured while trying to escape on foot to Tobruk, according to General. Headquarters at Cairo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.