Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-23
Desert Rout Laid
To Supplies by
italian Chief
By MICHAEL CHIN1Gn
lnt.l N,r, s,r,les slan corrs.penasnt


Intl News service stan Correspondent
ROME. Dec. %. - Britain's
overwhelming superiority in
mechanical equipment, which de
stroyed main bodies of Italian
, troops one after another within
a few hours wsS acknowledged
officially in Rome today as a
major factor in the British adj
vance from Egypt 10 Libya.
IN seVen-pase report TO
Prenfer MusSollni. Marshal
Rodolfo Graziani. the commander
in-chief of Italy'S hard-preSsed
North African forces, coupled this
acknowledgment with disclosure
that his Fascist troops were al
most ready 10 renew their push
against Alexandria and Suez
when the British lightning struck.
HAD SPEARHEAD
Lack of adequate shipments of
motorized equipment from Italy
10 Libya was the only thing that
prevented Italian troops from re-
stunning their advance beyond Sid
Barrafi, 70 miles inside Egypt,
where Grazianis forces had held
q spearhead for three months, the
marshal explained -
The Italian forces were aware
that the British blow was COM
ing. Graziani declared. Air
reconnaissance revealed concen-
tration of British forces east of
lMarsa Matruh in early October.
And British prisoner captured
December 7 revealed that the
attack was about to be launched,
ne said.
italian troops were immedL
ately placed In a state of readi-
ness and the alarm sounded"
the marshal explained. cit was
renewed after intense enemy air
reconnaissance In the next few
days indicated that the attack
was probable at any moment.
Every one knew IL was coming"
WARsHIPs' PART
Declaring in his seven-page re-
port that the outcome of the
titanic struggle in Libya cannot
yet be foreSeens :. GraZiani spoke OF
the constant and powerful Often
sive" of British warships against
Fascist troops on the Egyptian
Libyan coast and of the most
violent" naval commandments OF
Italian coastal bases.
Reinforced Royal Air Force
squadrons also were declared by
GRAHAM to have continuously
hit" Italian columns and COM
munications. while fatal atmos-
pheric adversities prevented Italian
aviation from making its entire
weight felt in the battle"
The marshals remarkable docu-
ment. giving the first official
Italian explanation of the western
desert battle. stressed. however.
the prime importance OF B6tain's
legions of tanks and arrnored cars
in the blitz offensive launched two
weeks ago. The report dramatic
ally described the opening of the
British sweep, stating:
1.-THE overwhelming superior
lily of armored equipment en-
ployed en- masse was essentially
the reason for the enemy's
lightning initial success.
LIGHTNING ATTACK
after short hut murderous
artillery and aviation prepare
ton, the armored and motorized
columns OF the enemy rushed in
from all directions and destroyed
main bodies OF Italian troops
one after the other within a few
hours. despite the most siren
uous resistance.
General Maletti (who was
reported killed. and his forces
were overwhelmed and dragged
down q second Libyan division.
q strong and fast column of
which had been sent as rein
fOrcemenis.
THE antl-tank arms and ar
tillery Of the Italian divisions
were forced to disperse and aim
at moving targets which were
operating concentrically. thus
resulting In little effect of
Italian Are"
The marshal admitted that the
surprise blow of the British Of
fensiVe reversed long and arduous
preparations Graziani's force S
were making 20 advance from Sid
BaFFani Upon tierSa Matruh, f20
miles farther east. and the ter
minus OF the railroad TO the
British naval base of Alexandria