In Egypt, 30,000 British & Commonwealth troops are advancing deep into the desert- ready for a surprise attack on Italian invaders. 
Allied forces hiding in no-man's land of the Egyptian desert; windscreens removed from vehicles so no Italian reconnaissance will spot tell-tale sun-glare.
30,000 Allied troops in Egyptian desert finally told they are not on an exercise. Tomorrow they attack Italian forts: huge raid, codenamed Compass.
British commander in Egypt, General Wavell, is holding an officers' party tonight at the Cairo Turf Club- to make Italian spies think he has no plans for tomorrow.
Wavell's 30,000 troops- & 265 British Matilda tanks- will strike from the Egyptian desert at dawn, hoping to blindside Italians who are guarding the Mediterranean coast road.
Operation Compass begins with an early victory: Indian & British troops have captured two fortified Italian camps in Egypt, killing or capturing 3000 soldiers.
Among Italian dead from Allied surprise attack in Egypt is a General, Pietro Maletti- shot down while personally manning a machine-gun.
