ALMOST CUT OFF

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 11

ALMOST CUT OFF

Italians Admit Critical Position At Keren

LONDON, March 6.

The Rome radio announced: “The position at Keren is critical. Our troops are nearly cut off from Asmara. Italians must suffer courageously during the empire’s difficulty.” An Italian communique states: "Our troops in the Keren sector counterattacked against forces which are attempting to filter through the Italian lines at night, and captured a number of prisoners. The enemy carried out air raids in various localities in Eritrea. Only slight damage was done, and there were no casualties.” A message from Khartoum states that patriot forces occupied Mansuka, a village eight miles east of Debra Markos.

Communiques reflect the lull on the other African fronts.

It is officially revealed in Cairo that Mogadishu, the capital of Italian Somaliland, captured some days ago, was a morgue for Italian aircraft. The British found the frames of eleven Capronis and of at least 10 other planes, 25 aero engines, and also petrol dumps and vast quantities of stores and equipment.