London, Feb. 10, British advanced forces on. borders of Tripolitania, western half of Libys, may press forward across 430 miles of mostly barren desert and assault Tripoli, military elreles hhere believed today.
Gen. Sir Archibald. Wavell, the Middle East, "possibly now is preparing for such' an offensive, cording to growing beliefs here, British motorized units which cupied Et Aghelio, southwest of Beng. hhaal, have veered west around the Gulf of Sidra. on the heels remnants of Marshal Rodolfo Gra lan's Cyrenalean army. in what possibly is the beginning of the last base of a campaign te drive Italians from the whale of Libya, (Cyrenaica the Talian name for' the western Mait' of Libya).
Military eirelos here were cautious about predieting Gen, Wave' fulure moves. but his strategy, plus hints Gropped by authoritative. quarters, {ndleated the string of victories. of the British Army of the Nile may not yet be ended.
Great Advantages Seen British occupation of Tripoli would. first of all. shatter the Axis hold on North Attica; secondly, undermine the whole structure of the Italian Empire: thirdly diminish the German threat against Tunisia and, fourthly, re the British a port and naval base only 200 miles from Malta. which commands approaches to the Sicilian channel, Italian forees in. Tripoli were be-Meved to be considerably under five Aivisions, hence it was felt that Gen, Wavell was fully justified in pushing, his advance despite diMoult terrain, Meanwhile, Australian forees were said to be rounding up an estimated 25,000 Italian prisoners from the vast tarea around Benghazl, Five Italian generals, yesterday as announced captured, brought to 20 Italian gen= erals captured during the entire Libyan offensive.
Hatians Resist at Heron The British push in Eritrea has encountered the stiffest Italian resist~ ange yet in the vicinity of Keren, reports here from the front indi: ated today, Mahan reinforcements, rushed from Addis Ababa. have brought (0 15,000 the estimated strength of Mahon troops. defending Keren, An Italian counter-attack on Satur Jday near Keren was repulsed with heavy losses. it was said, Night train from Keren to Asmara were said to be loaded with evacuees. "The trains not only were corrving ell Keren's civilian epulation but all Useful, moveable equipment in pre-aration for the British assault, said on Keren "describing Benghost' fall British planes dropped pamphlets
find seeking. to. demoralize the. de fenders and "encourage desertions, hich steady have eon consider able, it-was s9i¢. "Many of the des fetters were said (0 be: members. the" famed "allan" Bersaghier=—United Press
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