BRITISH CAPTURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 5

BRITISH CAPTURE.

IMPORTANT POST OCCUPIED.

CAMPAIGN IN THE SUDAN. /United Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, November 7. A British column, supported by Royal Air Force units, .surprised! and captured the important frontier post' of Gal la hat, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, taking a number of prisoners. This is announced in. an official Cairo communique dealing with operations in the Sudan. An enemy counter-attack was followed by two heavy bombing attacks, which wens repulsed. British and Indian troops, supported by aircraft, tanks, artillery, and armoured cars, took part. The action lastled barely three-quarters of an hour. The Italians suffered many casual-/ ties. The prisoners included 17 deserters.

In the Kassala sector, further north in the Sudwan, a- British mobile force is continuing to maintain rrassure on an enemy detachment in the Tessenei area.

From the Egypt, Palestine, and Kenya areas there is nothing to report. An Italian communique says: “We repulsed an enemy attack against Gallabat. The action is continuing.” A Royal Air Force communique) says that a successful raid was made on Assab, in Eritrea. Bombs fell on the main pier and a number of warehlenses, and caused a large fire which was visible 45 miles away.

British fighters engaged a. Savoia bomber approaching Malta, silenced the . rear gunner, and .possibly seriously damaged the bomber.

Many reconnaissances were made over the Western Desert and Italian East Africa.

All the aeroplanes returned safely from all operations.