Post by Diarist on Jan 26, 2016 13:24:07 GMT 1
The only positive report of the day has been the 7th CCNN Division's advance into Egypt but west of Tripoli the front has collapsed and Tripoli itself is threatened. A militia is being formed by giving rifles to civilians with any kind of experience. Prior to the conflict Italian troops were mainly sent to eastern Libya in order to deter the British from closing the Suez Canal. The Tunisian border was neglected. In fact the 1st Libyan Division was earmarked for shipment to East Africa.
Although elements of the 2nd Infantry Division "Sforza" appear to have halted the French near Ivrea, north of Torino, the situation remains in the balance. The remainder of the 26th Infantry Division "Assietta" in Asti has moved south and has encountered the elements of the French 1st and 25th Motorized Divisions. The French are still advancing. Other units from the 26th Division were already in Massawa and have been severely mauled by the 51st Highlanders.
Brigade-sized battle-groups from the 2nd and 3rd Alpine Divisions are en route to Alessandria while similar formations from the 9th, 10th and 11th Infantry Divisions are being sent to positions south and southeast of Torino. The movements are being hampered by air-attacks, the lack of fuel as well as streams of refugees on the roads.
The Regia Aeronautica is disorganized. Many of the airfields have been damaged and they too are running out of fuel. They have lost a lot of aircraft on the ground but in the air they have matched l'armée de l'air!
In Eritrea General de Bono's army is being regrouped to defend against enemy forces coming from Kassala, Sudan and to defeat British forces in the port of Massawa. The situation in Somilia is unclear but Kismayu appears to have fallen.