MANY REFUGEES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 124, 19 February 1941, Page 7

MANY REFUGEES

i Italians On French Somali Border BRITISH PUSH Developing Well In All Sectors , British Official Wireless and Press Assn.l (Received February 18. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 18.

Tin- land operations are developing satisfactorily in all sectots of the African fronts. Several thousand Italian women and children have crowded the frontier of French Somaliland. begging to enter. A number of Haban officers are with them. The French authorities so far have refused entry on the ground ol insufficiency of food. Yesterdav’s Cairo headquarters vowinunique stated that in Libya and hrttrea the situation remains unchangec. With the fall of Kurmuk. in Abyssinia, on February 14. no Italians remain in E"vpt tlie Sudan, and Kenya, exeep as prisoners. The British move toward Gondar in western Abyssinia has been resumed. ~ In the Lake Rudolf area, southern Abyssinia. British troops continue their penetration. Captures at Kismayu. An official announcement in Nairobi stilted that it is now known that a large quantify of ammunition, stores, ami material was captured at Ktsmnyu. Italian Somaliland, and that Italians left, a number of heavy coastdefence anti-aircraft guns intact. Ihe defences of Kismayu were of great strength, and included tank traps and a deep belt of barbed wire. Further details are given of the conquest of 10.000 square miles of Italian Somaliland south-west of the Juba River, which hits been achieved by tinimperial Forces within three weeks. Tlie King’s African Rifles crossed the frontier from Kenya on January 24. Advancing along a waterless camel track, they rapidly captured Liboi, Hawine, ami Belesgugani: then Afmadu, the key junction of the Witjir-Kismnko road anil the route toward Juba, fell into their hands, enabling them to speed up the campaign. Gold Coast forces captured Buroelillo, above the Juba, while the other troops were swooping across country to take the port: of Kismayu. at the mouth of the Juba River, which Britain granted to Mussolini in 1925 ns “backsheesh” for Italy’s good behaviour in the Groat War of 1914-18. Bombers Carry On. A Nairobi air communique yesterday stated: "South African Air Force bombers have continued their sustained activities during the Inst few days. On February 15 tlie heaviest divebombing attack yet was made on G.elib, on the oust bank of Ilto Julia River. Our bombers, attacking in waves, dropped a largo number of bombs on the village ami on enemy barracks there. Many hits wore observed, and several fires wore started. On the previous day bombers carried out an offensive reconnaissance east of the Juba River. Enemy mechanical transport was located and Iho bombers registered direct: hits. “On February 15 another South African Air Force squadron bombed enemy mechanical transport near El Sod. 20 miles north of Mega, in Abyssinia.” Heavy damage has been caused to hangars, buildings, ami workshops at Alni Adaga. in Eritrea, by the latest R.A.F. attack. Photographs taken show a number of direct hits on tlie main hangars and that: several buildings nearby wore demolished. Several fires were started and many hits on buildings wore observed.