Evening star., 1941-01-23
00Capfured
In Tobruk' 5 Fall,
British Report
a Generals Declared
Token; Attacks Made
In Eust Africa
B. the Associated Press.


CAIRO, Egypt, Jan. 23.-British
headquarters announced today that
the capture of ToEruk, Italian Libyan
base, was completed last night and
that more than $4,000 prisoners wers
taken.
A communique said the prisoners
included four generals, one corps
commander and another divisional
commander, and an admiral
British causalties were said TO be
less than 500.
Enemy casualties are not yet fully
ascertained," said the British COM
mand's communique. but 1000
wounded already are being evac-
uated."
"A number of senior Army and
naval staff officers" were listed
among the prisoners.
Tobruk has been called the best
harbor between Alexandria and
TuniS.
The communique made succinct
references TO offensive actions
against italian East Africa. hum
dreds of miles from the North Afri.
can, or Libyan, battle line.
1t told of continued pressure east
OF Metemma, on the Ethiopian front,
and in Kenya Colony. facing both
Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland.
Contact Made in Eritrea.
British troops which pursued the
Italians from KaSsala, in the Anglo
Egyptian Sudan, near the border OF
Italian Eritrea. were said to have
established contact within Eritrea
where the Fascists had taken up
| defensive positions dominating Vis-
cla and Varentu.
The capture Of Tobruk with a
36-hour land. air and sea assault
eliminated a siege that gave the
British undisputed control of 80
| miles Of the Libyan coastline and an
| ideal base from which to continue
/ their westward drive.
Royal Air Force headquarters re-.
| ported heavy raids Monday night
on Derna, 95 miles west of Tobruk.
| The bombs started fires which the
R. A. F. said could be seen 80 miles
away. Derna would be the immedi-
ate major objective of British
drive farther along the Libyan coast.
Barracks "and other military tar
gets were hit by tons of bombs, the
communique said
British circles in Cairo, jubilant
over the fall, predicted that the
remainder of Cirenaica Eastern
Libyal-including the coastal bases
of Derna and Bengasi-would be in
the hands of Gen. Sir Archibald P.
Wavells forces by spring.
Nazis May Be Obstacle.
These soU eeS said the greatest OBJ
staCle to this achievement might be
the German air force. which recent
ly has been operating in the Medi-
terranean. They declared, however.
that should Adolf Hitler find it
necessary to take a major hand in
the war in North Africa in an effort
| to save Libya for the Italians, Brit
ain would have achieved a major
objective in forcing the Germans to
divide their forces.
! 4OUI I'm ldSl uclCllStS. lIlS DIlIISIk
high command said, fell at noon
yesterday before the onslaught Of
Australian shock troops.
Military circles said Tobruk is Of
great strategic value because it gives
the British port through which
they can supply their army in Libya.
which is now 200 miles west of the
nearest railhead at Matruh, Egypt.
May Make Mountain Stand.
British circles expressed conf
dence some time ago that if Tobruk
fell the Italian positions at Derna
and Bengasi. respectively, about 95
and 200 miles to the west along the
coast, soon would become untenable.
They acknowledged, however, that
the Italians. taking advantage of
the terrain. might be able to make
some sort of stand in the rugged
Jebel Akdar Mountains which rise
to height of 5000 feet between
Tobruk and Bengasi.
Beyond BengaSi only a few insig-
niflcant coastal settlements are
scattered along the road to Tripoli,
some 500 miles away.