London, Jan, 12. The total number of Italian killed and captured in Bardla—d4,908—is than was at frst expected in official quarters in London, but on examination of captives has proved the explanation to be simple.
Bardia was used by the' Italians. fas an advanced base and contained, in addition to the fighting forces, a number of departmental and admin~ {stration units, such as workshops, hygiene sections and numerous other tasks associated with a military base of any size, The presence of.these types in such strength was not included in the forecast made of the actual Aghting garrison of Wardia, and hence the apparent discrepancy of something like 10,000 between the estimated and actual total.
'The new figure may be taken as practically the total garrison of Bardia, for it is unlikely that many Ialians' escaped.
At Bardia its off; Italian casual les amounted to" 2,041 officers and 4 1827 men killed and captured. Matera! captured included 402. guns 140 tanks and 708 transport vehicles, Reuter, Nazis Over Mediterranean
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