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VALUE OF TRIPOLI.
British Supply Base.
LONDON. Jan 25.-A radio broad
caster describing Tripoli after its
capture said: "The people are quiet
and troops entering the city found
things much as reported by aerial
reconnaissance. Damage in the town
itself is comparatively light but there
is considerable devastation around
the harbour area. The chief value
of Tripoli to the Eighth Army will
be as a supply base. The supply line
is now strung out and a long way
from BengazL It will be an enormous
advantage to be able to bring up
supplies by sea. But it will take
time to get Tripoli harbour into
shape again, though the engineers
and navy can be trusted to clean up
the mess as quickly as possible.
"The effect of the capture of Tri
poli on Malta will be felt soon.
Tripoli lies due south of Malta and
only about 200 miles separate the
two. The British conquest of the
coast as far west as Tripoli means
that convoys can be given fighter
escort all the way from Alexandria
to Malta. And these reinforcements
are going to play an important part
in the effective deployment of naval
vessels and aircraft off the coast o
Tripolitania and Tunisia."
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