IN PURSUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 73, 28 March 1941, Page 8

IN PURSUIT.

ALLIED FORCES.

Retreat Of Italians In All

Abyssinian Sectors.

British Official Wireless. (Reed. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Mar. 27. The Cairo communique states: "There is nothing to report from Libya. African and Belgian troops in co-operation captured Gambela, in Abyssinia, thus clearing the Baro salient (western Abyssinia) of enemy forces. In southern Abyssinia our pursuit of |the retreating Italian forces is continuing on all sectors." An earlier communique dealing with the situation in Keren stated: "Our troops made further important gains, beating off several counter-attacks and capturing a number of prisoners, including a complete brigade headquarters. Enemy casualties during the last 48 hours have been heavier than before." A Nairobi communique announces continued action by. the South African Air Force in attacking enemy rail and road communications between Diredawa and Aliase. Many bombs hit a train, which comprised 15 trucks and was moving towards Diredawa at Urso. Direct hits were made on the front and rear of the train, two gaps being caused. Other trains were attacked at Miesso and Auasc, arid in one case three trucks were overturned. Twenty trucks and some troops at Metehara, near Addis Ababa, were machine-gunned. Two Hros were seen at Auasc, where mechanised transport was also machine-gunned. Two enemy bombens over the Marda Pass area dropped only one stick of bombs and remained two minutes, but did no damage. South African aircraft landed at Rocco Littorio in Italian Somaliland to evacuate enemy civilian nationals. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: "Formations of R.A.F. and South African bombers continued to carry out severe attacks on the Addis Ababa-Jibouti railway yesterday, causing heavy damage to the track, rolling stock and bridges. Between Miessp and Awash five trains were bombed and machine-gunned and trucks set on fire by one formation, which also attacked and severely damaged a large number of enemy motor transport vehicles. "A train in the station at Bicket was dive-bombed and hit repeatedly, and a train in a cutting machine-gunned. Hits were observed on station buildings and a railway bridge 15 miles west of Gota. South African bombers heavily bombed three trains at Awash and another west of the town. "On the nights of March 25 ind 20 R.A.F. lighters machine-gunned - and badly damaged a number of enemy transport vehicles near Gondar. "In the Keren area enemy positions in ;lrills around the town were again heavily and frequently bombed. Two C.R.42 lighters were shot down in this area by South African fighters."