The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-10
BRITISH SMASH
 HARD IN EGYPT
CcOntinued from Page D

But a feeling was evident that, with at least 1000 Italian prisoners taken in the first phase of the of- fensive, the entire Italian flank an- chored to the Mediterranean coast might be menaced.
 The British attack was calculated to take advantage first of the difa- cult position of the Italians who had advanced to Sidi Barrani from the Libya frontier and secondly to profit by alleged Reorganization in the Italian high command and al- legged deterioration of Italian civil ian and military morale. Added to this was the conviction that the British navy controlled the sea lanes along which Italy might send sup plies and reinforcements to its north African army.
 Graziani May Quit
 There were reports here that Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, Italian commander in chief ill North Af- rica, might soon resign his post.
 It was reported also that disturb ances had intesified in Ethiopia. Rebellious tribes were said to be on the march against the Italians and it was reported that well armed tribesmen of the Gojjam region in the central northwest were raiding Italian conveys and garrisons.
 The Daily Telegraph asserted to- day: After six months of war it is no exaggeration to say that there is present in Italy-with her latent war weariness, her distrust of her German ally and the disillusion- ment which resulted from the frus- tration of her hopes for an easy victory for Germany-a situation comparable to that which led to the downfall of France"
 Aside from such factors as these, the British, it was disclosed, had long been preparing for surprise attack on the Italians in Egypt. First strong defensive positions had '.been established to meet any Ital- ian drive. Then, in preparation for the main attack which was started yesterday. British troops crossed eight miles of No Mans Land dur ing recent moonless nights and de- posted supplies including gasoline for new arlnored units under the sand. The whole preparatory phase of the operation was conducted se- cretly and apparently took the Ital- ians by surprise.
 British Strong Lines
 It was disclosed further that the priticl1 1n1ya established . ctvnf1c 1T communication line right up to their front line, including railroad Hines to supply even advanced units.
 Weather conditions were now re- ported favorable for the British op- erationS and also there was a hard crust on the desert sand which per- mitted armored units to operate.
 A Cairo dispatch to the Daily Mail reported that British forces in the first phase of their attack had swept past Sidi Barrani, the Italian advanced position on the coast. "If our forward units are able to cap- ture positions commanding the es- carpment they will be able to threaten the main body of the Ital- ian ramy entrenched in the coastal belt" the dispatch continued.
 The speed with which the British attack yesterday was developed was shown by the fact that the British moved at dawn against the Italian camp of Mabeya, south of Sidi Bar rani, and that by 10 a. m. they had completed their entire initial oper- ation in that sector while other troops pushed forward to objectives in the same region.