SWIFT PUSH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 147, 3 April 1941, Page 5

SWIFT PUSH

BRITISH CAPTURE OF ASMARA VICTORY OF GREAT IMPORTANCE CENTRE OF COMMUNICATIONS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, April 1. With the capture of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, by British troops, still another deadly blo\v has been struck at the tottering Italian empire in Africa. The fall of Asmara, one of the few remaining Italian bastions in East Africa, was reported from Cairo to-day. British and East African troops entered the town within five days of the fall of Keren.

Asmara is .a modern city, the population of 100,000 including .50,000 Italians. From Asmara the British troops will be able to drive towards Massawa, the Italian naval base on the Red Sea. British forces had not only to contend with natural difficulties on the drive to Asmara, but with obstacles placed in their way by the. retreating Italians. Outside Keren the Italians had contrived a, big landslide, which effectively hold up mobile units. This and other obstacles were removed by British sappers. Asmara is the centre of communications in Eritrea. North-west run the the road and railway to Keren, 60 miles away. To the east are the road and railway to Massawa, a distance of 75 miles. To the south run two roads which radiate into Abyssinia.

The possession of Asmara is not only a direct threat to Massawa, but also threatens finally to sever communications between Abyssinia and Massawa, leaving the road to Assab as the only link between Abyssinia and the .Red Sea

The civic and military authorities at Asmara mot the victorious British forces outside the city with a white flag.

The British troops have been given powerful support by bombers of the Royal Air Force, which attacked the Italian linos of communication and also bombed the railway station at Asmara, where several large fires were started.