UNIT FROM CHAD TERRITORY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23848, 18 January 1943, Page 5

UNIT FROM CHAD TERRITORY

FIGHTING FRENCH JOIN BTH ARMY

LONDON. Jan. 17.

it is revealed that a Fighting French unit from the Chad territory marched 1900 miles, systematically mopping up all the Italian garrisons on the way, to join up with the Bth Army. When the Fighting French reached Murzuk the Italians had already fled, French motorised units went in pursuit. A French airman spotted 110 Italians 20 miles ahead of their pursuers. He rounded them, up like a sheepdog, and machine-gunned any trying to escape. The Italians then waved white flags. The aeroplane kept watch until motorised units were able to overtake the Italians. The Italian garrisons reduced by tht French were spread over 1000 square miles and each consisted of between 50 and 100 men. All these Italians were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.

PRISON BREAK AT BELFAST

LONDON, Jan. 15,

Four members of the Irish Republican Army, who had been imprisoned on treason charges, scaled the wall and escaped from the Belfast prison. The escapees jumped into a waiting motorcar. •

Probably the greatest man-hunt ever seen in Belfast followed. Every available policeman was mobilised, some of whom were armed with Bren guns. The police stopped all traffic and searched vehicles at the city’s exits. They also interrogated hundreds of city workers going home to lunch. Special patrols operated at railway stations.

It is understood that shortly before daybreak the cells which the escapees occupied were found to be empty. Later a hole was discovered in the glass roof of a one-storeyed washhouse inside the prison compound. It is believed that accomplices who were waiting outside had a rope ready on the 20-foot wall surrounding the prison, and the men rushed into the car in an adjoining street. The Belfast police have offered a reward of .£3OOO for information leading to the recapture of one or more of the escapees.