CHAPTERS
THE ITALIANS ATTACK
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Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Hell We Go.....
THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST - WW2
AT LAST On Sept 13, 1940 the long awaited offensive by the Italians gathered on the Libyan border began. In an amusing display of where no intelligence is better than late intelligence, the Italians opened their offensive with heavy artillery shelling above the escarpment on a position the perplexed British had already evacuated. Immediately following this dubious barrage they made their move and troops swarmed down the escarpment around past Sollum into Egypt, all the while under heavy return shelling by the British. The Italian 10th Army under General Beronzoli with four divisions and an armoured group of 200 tanks then swung west across the hostile desert in temperatures over 120 degrees fahrenheit and advanced on a narrow front down the coastal road. The brunt of the attack fell on the 3rd Coldstream guards, a battery of 3rd Royal Horse Artillery and section of the 7th Medium Regiment, soon joined by a detachment of the 1st KRRC and a French battalion. For four days from the 13th of September to the 16th of September, this small British force withdrew (as planned) along the coast from Sollum to the East of Sidi Barrani inflicting heavy losses on the Italians all the way.
Barely 60 miles inside Egypt, the enemy having taken Sidi Barrani rested to await supplies while the British leaving a small covering force retreated to ready positions at Mersa Matruh 70 miles East. Graziani, a veteran of the desert, wisely decided to repair the damage done by the retreating British, set up a fresh water pipeline, and also stock Sidi Barrani so that it could be used as a forward supply base. The balance of the Italian troops were set up in camps spread from Maktila on the coast 15 miles East to Sofafi in the South - West. This stop was said to be a keen dissapointment to General Wavell who had hoped that Grazzini would over extend his line of supply. (Once the Italians crossed the frontier, the supply route handicap of the British effectively flip flopped to the Italians) Grazzini`s pause here would last well in to late October awaiting requested armoured cars, water trucks and moterized battalions. Few would ever arrive before he would be forced to continue his advance by an impatient Mussolini. In all, this first major offensive by the Italians had cost them substantially in men and equipment (purported to be about 120 dead and 400 wounded) while the British losses were under 50 men and a small number of vehicles.
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~HAMILTON SPECTATOR~
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1940
Egypt and the Axis
Ribbentrop, Nazi Foreign Minister, is paying a hurried visit to Rome, and the greatest importance is attached to the trip . He is expected to discuss with Mussolini, in particular, the problems affecting the Mediterranean, and the extent of German assistance in the task of clearing Mare Nostrum of the British fleet, sweeping the land forces out of Egypt and securing control of the Suez canal. Linked with these discussions is the position of Spain; speculation is rife as to the possibility of that country definitely throwing in her lot with the axis partners, in an attempt to seize Gibraltar and seal up the western entrance to the Mediterranean. What precisely will be the nature of the conversations in Rome is not, of course, known to the outside world. All comments, however confidently expressed, are nothing but guesswork, but it is safe to assume that questions of vital significance to the British land and sea forces in the affected areas will be taken under consideration.
In the meantime the Italians push rapidly on in their invasion of Egyptian territory. The occupation of Sidi Barrani by Marshal Graziani's troops is an impressive feat, in view of the difficulties encountered in reaching that point. His armies have been continually harassed on the march and are still being subjected to terrific punishment, but they have now gained much-needed water supplies and are at the beginning of an asphalt road leading to the Suez canal, which should be invaluable for the battalions of tanks, which the Italians are employing in these operations . Alexandria, where the British Mediterranean fleet is concentrated, is about 200 miles away from Sidi Barrani, and if Graziani intends to push his advance in that direction he will find his troubIes are only beginning. So far there has been no real battle between the opposing sides; apparently, British strategy has so arranged matters that the site of the major engagement can be chosen at will. A stranglehold is being maintained on Italian supply routes and a formidable British force is in the vicinity awaiting the signal to strike. It may well be that the Nazis, foiled in their effort to subdue the British Isles, are turning their attention to the possibilities of better success in the Mediterranean. Britain is conserving her strength for the major struggle, if and when it comes. A decisive defeat for Italy in the Mediterranean would have a tremendous effect on the morale of the Italian people, and Hitler cannot afford to sit idly by under any such menaaa to his partner. Moreover, there are the Iraq oil fields, which have always loomed so largely in Nazi calculations. Some observers envisage a colossal plan whereby the Fuehrer and the Duce will act in concert in a supreme effort to sever the British "life-Iine" connecting the Motherland with her . eastern possessions.'
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As the weeks ticked by, once again the telegrams began to fly between Grazzini and Mussolini as he harranged Grazzini to get on with the offensive. In a rare display of showing he sometimes actually had a grasp of things, Mussolini telegraphed on the 26th October; "40 days after the capture of Sidi Barrani, I ask myself the question, to whom has this long halt been any use, to us or the enemy? I do not hesitate to answer, it has been of use indeed, more to the enemy" he concludes with " it is time to ask whether you wish to continue in command."
HE WAS RIGHT...by jove. It "was" of more use to the enemy. As the Italians rested at Sidi Barani, troops and equipment that had been firmly held in the United Kingdom against the threat of invasion was slowly released and was beginning to arrive in the Middle East. By November 1940 Collishaw had added 2 squadrons of Wellingtons 37 and 38, 2 squadrons of Hurricanes 73 and 274, and 3 more Blenheim squadrons 11, 39 and 45. Each week of Grazzini's delay was a gift to the British.
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