Word: bardia
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Meanwhile in Libya the British tried an offensive of prevention, knowing that General Rodolfo Graziani was massing at least two divisions at Bardia, on the coast, for a drive into Egypt. Early one morning the British Fleet based at Alexandria suddenly appeared off Bardia. On the bulletin board of one of the battleships the captain had posted a notice: "This action will be short and sharp and we shall have some fun." For 25 minutes the 15-inch guns of the battleships and the 6-inchers of the cruisers poured a steel rain into Bardia. Aerial spotters reported the damage...
...broke up this effort with a flanking attack, and the survivors took refuge in the deserted adobe Fort Capuzzo. There they still were after a thirsty week, sucking stones to eke out their water supply, which the British cut off by removing many sections of the pipeline down from Bardia. British artillery, pounding their defenses, drove them into trenches. British shells and a detachment of light tanks broke up an Italian column of 20 trucks sent to relieve the beleaguered expedition...