Evening star., 1941-01-06
Kennedy
Continued From First Page)

they are being shipped off to distant
concentration centers. The cost of
caring for them, already running
into the millions of dollars, is
mounting daily.
The name and address of each
prisoner is being telegraphed to the
International Red Cross at Geneva
so that his family may be informed.
The enormous number of Italian
prisoners and their few casualties,
the British said reflected the Ital-
ianS lack OF enthusiasm for the
war.
No Picnic for British.
This does not mean the campaign
was any picnic for the British.
They had to go forward in a desert
which in itself presents innumerabIe
difficulties TO offensive action in
the face of heavy artillery fire. This
was especially true at Bardla,
where strong Notifications were two
years in the building.
The British said a large part OF
II Duce's North African army is
made up of Southern Italian peas
ants and workers without direct IN
tereSt in the war and desiring only
to get back to their little farms.
their homes and their work.
Many prisoners frankly said as
much.
L don't like the war" one told
me. L didn't want TO come. but
what could I do?"
British tanks and mechanical
cavalry who supported the Anzacs
rumbled into Bardia with them
These armored British units who
distinguished themselves in the rout
of the Italians from Egypt also
played vital part in smashing this
great italian stronghold opening the
way for drive on Tobruk, 70 miles
west.
Live Up to Reputation.
The Australians, long itching for
this action, fully lived up to the
reputation of their shock troop faith
erS in the World War, British officers
said.
watched the first Australian units
and tanks fight their way into Bardla
at sunset Saturday
From cliff outside the port town
I could see the minaret of Bardia's
mosque and attacking units working
toward it like procession of toy
soldiers.
Thousands of Italians entrenched
in gulleys surrounding the town fired
on them, and the explosions of Fas-
cist artillery at times screened the
creeping figures from view.
I could see the flashes from the
Italian batteries, but the British
tanks and Australians kept moving.
When they got near the batteries I
saw the Italians leave-some in
flight, some to surrender.
Surrender Later.
Those naming the Italian batteries
near Bardia's rock walls scaled the
walls and ran down the streets
OF the town. They surrendered
later-"under safer circumstances
as British officer put it.
l entered the town only a half
hour after this twilight assault
also in safety.
A brilliant sunset bathed the
ancient African town and thousands
of prisoners in long lines marched
to the rear as fast as they were
rounded up by the Anzacs.
Here were the same resigned faces
and gray-green uniformed columns
of men that I saw in Egypt three
weeks ago. They have become a
familiar sight in the desert since
the British counteroffensive began
less than a month ago.
There was the usual precaution of
one sentry to about 500 prisoners.
None tried to escape.
Five hundred Italians were rooted
from one gulch redoubt. Some had
sought refuge in natural caves. I
saw 1000 leave one cave, ordered to
march by a single Australian officer
armed with revolver and five in
fantrymen armed with rifles and
only one Bren gun.
Cracks Like Egg Shell.
They defended strongly fortified
perimiter that formed an arc 10
miles from end to end along the sea-
coast and running inland about 4
miles at the deepest point.
This system of concrete and steel
cracked like an eggshell under the
48-hour bombardment by artillery,
the Royal Air Force and British
warships operating off shore.
The inner defenses were taken in
many cases by bitter hand-to-hand
fighting, but casualties were not be-
lieved to be heavy on either side.
The British say their casualties
are light, and those of the Italians
mot heavy" since the Italians al
most invariably surrendered rather
than resist to the end.