SEA V. AIR POWER

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 11

SEA V. AIR POWER

Struggle Off Coast Of Libya NAZIS UNABLE TO STOP FLOW OF SHIPS Success Of Free French Land Forces LONDON, February 21. This morning's reports from Africa indicate that while the main fighting is in Italian Somaliland, ships of the Mediterranean Fleet are continuing their silent but important work along the Libyan coast. According to a Reuter’s correspondent, the measures taken by the Fleet have been responsible for counteracting the efforts of German aircraft to disrupt British coastal traffic. A steady stream of traffic is beingf kept moving and Italian lighters have proved most useful to our forces in clearing the harbours for our use. German aircraft have been making repeated raids in an attempt to interfere with this work. When Reuter's correspondent visited Benghazi, the port.was hav ing its third attack in 12 hours. On each night British warships stayed there German aircraft attacked. One was shot down into the sea by Australian fighter aircraft. In the Kufra Oasis district in southern Libya it is expected that the Free French forces operating against the Italians have continued their sharp action of a few days ago. The Italian garrison made a sortie from their positions and sharp fighting ensued. After a battle lasting three hours the Italians retreated, leaving much war material behind. Prisoners were also taken by the Free French forces. In Italian Somaliland British Imperial forces have crossed the .1 üba River and have driven back an Italian counter-attack. The official communique says that the operations are developing satisfactorilv.

British troops have now captured the whole of Jubaland. in Italian Somaliland. A striking order of the day was issued to the East African Imperial Forces on the eve of the present operations, which have now resulted in the wresting of Jub-aland from the Italians. In this order of the day, Lieutenant-General A. G. Cunningham, G.0.C., said: “Hit them, hit them hard, and hit them again.’’ Lieutenant-General Cunningham is a brother of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, who commands the Mediterranean Fleet.

Wishing good luck to the South African and West African troops, General Cunningham told them thai they had the chance of emulating the achievement of the Imperial troops in North Africa. Proof that they have done so is given in today's communique from Cairo, which says tha. the troops have successfully crossed the river Juba, driving off enemy counter-attacks.

The operations in this area are developing well. It was along the Juba River that the enemy took up posts a few days ago. According to a Rome communique, the British troops attacked with great violence and crossed the river, which runs south through Italian Somaliland into the Indian Ocean.

All the territory on the western side of the region, more than 10,000 square miles, has been in British hands foi several days.

A message from Khartoum describes the capture by Abyssinian patriots of a fortified market town. The Italian garrison might have held off the Abyssinian patriots, but leaflets dropped by the R.A.F. telling the Italians of their losses in Africa and of the return of Haile Selassie broke down their resistance.

The Abyssinians are now fighting their way down a road to an important Italian aerodrome about 20 miles away. The retreating Italians are being constantly attacked by low-flying fighters while Abyssinian snipers are firing at them, rolling boulders down on them from the surrounding hills, and blocking the road with . fallen trees. The bombing of the Italians in this area is being carried out by planes of the South African Air Force, which has dropped leaflets behind the Italian lines calling on more Abyssinians to join the patriot army and throw the invaders out of the country. Mega, a southern Abyssinian town, the capture of which by South African troops has been announced, is a fairsized town, 6500 feet above sea level, and 30 miles inside the Abyssinian border. It has an important road capable of carrying motor transport. The road leads south-east toward Moyale and northward to Addis Ababa. A Rome broadcast says that the Italian soldiers at Jarabub continue to put up a stubborn resistance. What form the resistance takes is not known, for military circles here are well aware that the garrison has been pursuing the usual Italian tactics in Libya. The British operations for months past, it is pointed out, have consisted of just watching the Axis force and preventing it from either being relieved or escaping. The British troops have not attacked Jarabub, for, indeed, this does not appear as yet necessary. The boredoom and feeling of having been abandoned by their Government are the main dangers that the garrison at Jarabub have bad to face so far.