WAR IN EAST AFRICA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23262, 24 February 1941, Page 7

WAR IN EAST AFRICA

More Gains In Somaliland

PROGRESS MADE IN ABYSSINIA (TOITED PRESS ASBOCUTIOU—COPTRIOHT.) (Received February 23, 11 p.m.) LONDON, February i 3. It is officially announced that South African forces have captured Jumbo, in Italian Somaliland, at the mouth of the Juba river. A brigade staff and a colonel were taken prisoner and guns and material were captured. The Italians at Jumbo consisted of those who had escaped from Kismayu, together with reinforcements. A second crossing o'f the Juba was made on Friday, north of the crossing made on Thursday, and operations from both bridgeheads are developing satisfactorily. Men of the King’s African Rifles have captured the islands of Deiserpenti and Mphangayapap, in Refuge Bay, just south of Kismayu. The Italians had evacuated the islands. The capture of Jubaland has an important bearing on the progress of the operations against the Italians in Abyssinia. The rains usually begin in the middle of March, and had the Italians held the front north-east of. Lake Rudolf and the port of Kismayu the invasion of Abyssinia would have been definitely delayed, for transport would have been impossible. Sudanese and Ethiopian forces are investing Burye, north of Addis Ababa. The Italian garrison from Enjabara is attempting to retreat to Burye. Value of Enjabara

Tlje reported fall of Enjabara is regarded as of more vital importance than the capture of Dangili, as the Italians will be forced to use a roundabout route for supplies over unmade roads or to ferry them across Lake Tsana.

The British forces now have at their disposal a magnificent motor road which the. Italians have built during the,last lour years for moving mechanised forces and supplies to escarpments. Furthermore, the Royal Air Force will now have a fine air base, comparatively close to Addis Ababa. Three thousand Fascists fleeing to Burye are exposed to incessant sniping by patriots, who are also blocking the roads with trees. British forces in Eritrea are now threatening both Keren ’ and Asmara from the rear.

A communique issued by British General Headquarters in Cairo says: ‘‘There is nothing important to report in Libya. “In Eritrea and Abyssinia, operations are continuing to develop to our advantage. With the capitulation of the garrison at Mega (in southern Abyssinia) on February 18, our South African troops captured more than 600 prisoners, most of them Europeans, together with some guns and many machine-guns.

“In Italian Somaliland, operations east of the Juba river are progressing satisfactorily.”

An earlier Cairo communique said: “One hundred and seven medium Italian tanks were captured or destroyed in the battle south of Benghazi recently (at Soluk). A check of other war materials taken over this extensive battle area is continuing.. “On the Eritrean front, between January 20 and February 20, we captured 47 Italian officers, including a brigade commander, 698 other ranks, and 5576 colonial troops. In addition many prisoners were taken in the areas of the Blue Nile, the Upper Nile and the Gojjam.” Support From Air

A communique issued by Royal Air Force.headquarters in the Middle East says; “Air activity in Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia was continued unabated on Friday. Bombers of the South African Air : Force attacked' troop concentrations on the banks of the Juba river and motor transport in the Gelib area and west of Mogadisho. “Aerodromes at Chinele and Diredawa were also raided on Friday by Royal Air Force bombers. At Chinele enemy aircraft and stores concealed in scrub alongside the landing ground were heavily attacked. Direct hits were obtained on the railway station and military barracks at Diredawa. "South African fighters made a lowflying attack on aircraft on the ground at Massawa, and also set fire to petrol dumps at Adi Ugn (in Eritrea). “Enemy fighters approached Malta on Friday, but withdrew when our fighters went up to intercept them.

“From all these operations our aircraft returned safely.” , An Official communique from the headquarters of the East African Air Force, dealing with intensive operations in the last few days by the South African Air Force, states: “A bomber squadron made a heavy attack against enemy troop concentrations along the cast bank of the Juba river, scoring direct hits on defensive positions.. There has also been much Offensive reconnaissance in the Mega area, and the Gelib, Jumbo, and Yonte areas in Italian Somaliland. "Italian troops, travelling in two lorries near Boda, north of the Juba river, indicated to our aircraft that they desired to surrender.”

R.A,F. ARMOURED.: CAR UNITS I OPERATIONS IN MIDDLE EAST ; (BKITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, February 22. With gazelle and buzzard as their daily, fare, often short of water during long absences from their base, often penetrating hundreds of miles behind enemy lines, sometimes surrouned by the enemy and forced to fight their way out, Royal Air Force armoured car units of the Middle East Command have a job no less dramatic—though less generally known—than the actual'flying personnel. Working as a rule in groups of three, they seldom use roads or tracks. Their battle field is the uncharted wilderness Typical of their adventures is one described in the Air Ministry's news service.. Recently an armoured car had mechanical trouble when more .than 100 miles from the nearest base. The unit's water supply was low and the men had been rationed to one cupful each a day. They' could have lasted only four days. The enemy was near at hand and any moment might learn of their whereabouts. At the risk of disclosing their presence, they, lit a fire. Eventually the column of smoke was seen by a Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft. Which made a landing. A party of Italians on patrol saw what had happened and surrounded both the aircraft and the armoured car. A miniature battle ensued, in which not only was the enemy put to flight but prisoners were actually taken. ; , The aircraft had been damaged'by machine-gun fire and the situation was desperate, because the Italians who had

escaped were sure to return with reinforcements. , ~ Capture seemed inevitable. But the pilot and the crew of the car worked feverishly on the aircraft and in one hour it was able to take to the air. Help was brought and the position was saved.

FATE OF ITALIAN BATTALION TREK IN WATERLESS DESERT LONDON. February 21. The story of a lost Italian battalion which is believed to be meeting a grim end in the desert from privation and thirst is told by a correspondent with the South African forces in East Africa. The 94th Battalion, Colonial Infantry, left Afmadu,- in Italian Somaliland, 80 miles from the Kenya border, 11 days ago. the night before B/itish troops occupied the town. The Italians remained in the neighbourhood for two days, hoping that the British would depart and so allow them to return for water. a x , The battalion then started a trek through the waterless desert to Gelib, where they have not yet arrived. A doctqr With the battalion returned to Afmadu and surrendered after trekking 40 miles. The battalion's padre was found dying from thirst. The rest of the battalion is believed to be dead or dying. _