RETREAT TOWARD CAPITAL

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 9

RETREAT TOWARD CAPITAL

Italians In Eritrea BRITISH CONTINUE WIDE SUCCESSES LONDON, February 4. In Africa British Imperial troops are continuing their advances on two sectors in Eritrea and on two fronts in Abyssinia. They are also pressing deeper into Italian Somaliland. In Libya General Wavell's army is continuing its systematic preparations for a westward drive from Derna. On all these fronts, which stretch across an area as large as Europe, the R.A.F. is giving valuable co-operation. In Eritrea the capture of Barentu was announced yesterday. This clears the wav for a push to Asmara, the capital of the Italian colony, which lies’loo miles to the east. Barentu fell after being surrounded on three sides and after being heavily shelled by artillery and bombed from the air. Nearly all the Italian troops, which consisted of two divisions, managed to escape, and are being pursued along the road leading to Asmara. Tt is estimated that the British Imperial forces have occupied about 10,000 square miles or nearly one-quarter of Italian Eritrea. In western Abyssinia, as the Italians fall back toward Gandar they are being harassed by Abyssinian patrols. The British advance on this front' has the double purpose of protecting the right flank of the British in Eritrea and compelling the Italians to take to the difficult high country.

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 3. The occupation of Barentu and a further retreat by the Italians on all the East African frontiers was.announced this afternoon in a communique from headquarters at Cairo. It states: — “In Libya, preparations for continuation of our advance from Derna are proceeding. “As a result of our operations in Eritrea, the enemy evacuated the town of Barentu, which we occupied yesterday. Meanwhile, in the northern sector, British mechanized troops are pressing back the Italian forces which are withdrawing toward Keren. "Our pursuit of the enemy forces, retreating toward Gondar, in Abyssinia continues, as a result of which the Italians have been compelled to abandon and destroy quantities of materials and stores of all kinds. “South African forces have occupied two Italian frontier posts 10 miles inside the enemy border on the Dukana front. “In Italian Somaliland vigorous activity by our patrols continues, extending and deepening our penetration across the Italian frontier.” A Nairobi communique states: “South African forces occupied El Gumu and Gorai, two posts 10 miles inside the Abyssinian border. The Italians lost two officers and 43 bauda (native troops) killed, and three officers and 50 banda were taken prisoner. Machine-guns, rifles and ammunition were also captured. Our casualties were very slight. After this success the capture of the post of Ilobok, seven miles north of the border, and west of Gorai. has been reported. Active patrolling continues on the other sectors.” Eritrean Position. In spite of the capture of Agordat and Barentu, military circles in London are disinclined to regard the new thrust as an immediate threat to Eritrea’s main seaport, Massawa, Agordat, while being the virtual railhead from the port, is ISO miles distant, and the intervening terrain is extremely difficult. ' Study of the map supports the view that the Italians might offer stiff resistance. However, it is thought probable that in addition to the prisoners, guns, and mechanized transport which are officially stated to have been captured, a quantity of stores have been left behind 'by the Italians withdrawing from Agordat. The importance of the capture of Baicundi, 50 miles south of Barentu, and just inside the Eritrean border, is due to the protection it affords the British right flank, since it has little communication northward to Barentu. The Italians are also thought, to be in an unhappy position in the Walkait district in Abyssinia proper, where they have already had trouble with Abyssinian patriots.

In considering the East African campaign as a whole, it should not be overlooked that successive British advances entail lengthening of the lines of communication, which arc more than ever dependent, on mechanical transport. Shelltire in Libya. Beyond Derna the British artillery is now busy driving the Italians from one position to another, says a correspondent of the British United Press with the Army of the Nile. “Rocky peaks along rhe road provide natural sites for defence,” he says, “but our gunnery is more consistent and more accurate, and undoubtedly it is taking toll of defenders. A wandering Arab who escaped from the Italians declared that the Italian artillery is holding the peaks to enable the infantry to escape.” The correspondent adds that everywhere the British forces penetrate they find natives freed from the Fascist grip crying “Long live liberty” and “Welcome to the British.” The British are now more than halfway to Benghazi from the Egyptian frontier.

BOMBS ON WEST LIBYA

Planes Destroyed On Aerodrome BRITISH OPERATIONS (British Official Wireless.) RUGB Y. February 3. A Royal Air Force communique issued late tonight gives news of a heavy and successful raid by outplanes on Castel Benito, the Italian aerodrome near Tripoli. Several tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped and at least seven aircraft on the ground were destroyed. All our machines returned safely. An earlier communique by the R.A.F. in the Middle East stated: — “Activity by R.A.F. fighters and bombers continued in Libya yesterday, particularly on the roads between Derna and Benghazi. At Slonta, 2i> ■miles south-west of Appolonia, troops and lorries were machine-gunned. Thirteen lorries were destroyed and heavy casualties were inflicted among troops. “Other machine-gun and bombing attacks were made on motor transport at Marana and on the road between there and Gubba. “At Appolonia fighters attacked the aerodrome and destroyed three Ghiblis and a CA3IO. They also machinegunned a transport and troops, causing many casualties. “At Cipene. 10 miles south-west of Appolonia, a CR42 was shot down by our fighters. “In East Africa on February 1 aircraft of the South African Air Force bombed enyny emplacements. In support of the army offensive on Barentu low-diving attacks were made by the R.AJ?. on a. fort and buildings, which were hit by a number of bombs. Others fell among a concentration of motor transport, and at least 50 vehicles were rendered unserviceable. “West of Asmara another concentration of motor transport vehicles was attacked and direct hits were made on a road.

“At Agordat our fighters shot down an 579 in flames. “From all these operations our aircraft returned safely.”

FULL INQUIRY TO BE HELD

Johannesburg Riots CAPE TOWN, February 3. The Premier, General Smuts, told the House of a full inquiry will be held, into the Johannesburg riots and that compensation would be paid for damage. Armoured cars are still patrolling the streets of the city. Eighty-five persons are still in hospital as a result of the riots and 231 others were injured. General Smuts, as G.O.C. of the Defence Forces, has issued a special order emphasizing the necessity for all ranks to observe orderly conduct “even in the face of frequent provocation.”

General Smuts stated that he “most gravely disapproves of the riotous conduct of certain members of the forces in Johannesburg on January 31 and February 1, such members discrediting their uniform and embarrassing their G.0.C.. who will take severe disciplinary action to maintain respect for authority and obedience of civil law.”