CAPTURE OF HOBOK

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 120, 14 February 1941, Page 7

CAPTURE OF HOBOK

How Push Began Into South Abyssinia

DENSE BUSH PENETRATED

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, February 12.

South African troops played a prominent part in the capture of Hobok, on the south Abyssinian border, according to details reaching London. With British forces, the South Africans left Dukana and camped ou the border. They pushed on through dense bush for IS miles toward their objective. A brigadier, referring to this advance, said: “I do not think the history of motorized forces can .show a similar feat, considering the type of bush we encountered.”

The fight for El Mumu in flat, featureless bush country devoid of walls, was short and sharp. El Mumu was occupied after less than two hours’ fighting on the same day as Coral. About 15 of the enemy were killed and 11 were taken prisoner. On the following day the forces advanced toward Hobok. 17 miles to the northwest.

Hobok. fortified and well patrolled, was held by a colonel with 1000 men, but it is reported that with the fall of El Mumu the colonel withdrew, leaving a junior officer to defend tlie position. Fighting began 4000 yards from the main defences, where a road block was covered by machine-gun posts.. As they approached the fort the attacking forces were met by very heavy fire. Their machine-guns and artillery went into action, and armoured cars attacked the fort, followed by infantry. The South Africans swarmed into the fort and captured material which, though not yet officially checked, is said to include machine-guns, rifles, grenades, and quantities of ammunition.

The main feature of the fort, a twostoried blockhouse, was demolished by a direct hit from an anti-tank gun at a range of 1400 yards. The British and South African losses were extremely .small.