CAMPAIGN IN SOMALILAND

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23100, 16 August 1940, Page 8

CAMPAIGN IN SOMALILAND

THE IMPORTANCE OF BERBERA ONLY GOOD PORT ON COAST [THE PRESS Special Service] AUCKLAND, August 15. Although Berbers, the objective of Italian attacks in British Somaliland, had small material value, it was of importance as the only suitable port on the coast from which Britain could attack Abyssinia, and its loss would also affect Britain’s prestige on the other side of the Red Sea. said Mr F. S, Parker, a New Zealander, who has an intimate knowledge of this coast, in an interview.. Mr Parker was for several years chief engineer of the motor-ship El Hak, carrying petroleum products from Suez to ports on both sides of the Red Sea and further south along the coast of Italian Somaliland. During that time he called at practically every port, large and small, in this area from the strongly fortified port of Massawa in Eritrea, along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The whole coast was utterly and, Mr Parker said. Supplies for the coast had to come either from the more fertile highlands inland, or from across the Red Sea. Berbera was the only real pprt on the British Somaliland coast. Zeila, which has been taken by the Italians, was not a port at all. It was only an anchorage, with a cluster of native huts. Berbera, however, was a natural harbour, with a sandbank protecting it from the south-west monsoon. It had the only residency, a few European houses, and some hundred Somali huts. There was no wharf for large vessels, all unloading being done by lighter. He could not agree, however, with the claim, that it was of no strategic value. It was the head of a 600-mile road to Addis Ababa, and was the only port suitable for landing troops from Aden for operations against the Italians. Fertile Highlands The coast from Jibuti to Zeila was perfectly flat, and would offer no hindrance to an Italian advance; but between Zeila and Berbera the mountains came right down to the coast. There was a wedge of flat land inland for 30 or 40 miles from Berbera, with mountains behind. If the Italians reached Berbera, progress along the rest of the British Somaliland coast would be easier, as there was fairly flat land in most places, but there were no ports or settlements of any value. Inland in British Somaliland the highlands were quite fertile, and a certain amount of sheep raising was carried on. Sheep were even exported to Aden, so that the capture of these areas might be of some value to the Italians in securing supplies. However, if an area of 30 or 40 miles round Berbera could be held by the British, it would be of more value than the rest of the country. South from Cape Guardafui, along the Italian Somaliland coast, the land continued to be arid for hundreds of miles. Ras Hafun was the only important port until Mogadishu was reached; but even the latter, although much bigger than Berbera, was a poor port, which could not be used at some periods of the year. The only real port on this part of the coast was Kisimayu, at the mouth of the Jub river. It was only a small place; but would be useful as a base for operations against Kenya. .