NOW ON GOOD ROADS EN ROUTE TO HARAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 140, 10 March 1941, Page 7

NOW ON GOOD ROADS EN ROUTE TO HARAR

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received March 9, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. British forces from Ferfer (Italian Somaliland) sweeping into Abyssinia at the rate of 100 miles a day, are now believed to be approaching Gabredarre. The retreating Italians have out-distanced their pursuers, but the South African Air Force is harrying them without respite. The British forces are now on good metalled roads in the east of Abyssinia en route to Harar (north-east Abyssinia) and are marching on without opposition. Italian forces have been withdrawn from Lugh Ferrarandi (near where the borders of Kenya, Abyssinia, and Italian Somaliland meet) and are retreating toward the south Abyssinian lakes. The whole of Italian Somaliland to a line north of the Shebeli River has been cleared of organized Italian forces. The Italians left 21.000 dead and prisoners in Italian Somaliland. In the north, British and Ethiopian patrols are increasingly bringing pressure to bear on Chilga, north of Lake Tana on the way to Gondar. British sappers are clearing land mines from the road to Chilga and patriots are pinpricking the Italians in Gondar. British bombers, coming in from constantly-varied directions, are attacking Keren, in Eritrea. They fly low and attack the Italian positions for hours. The Italian batteries reply, but our artillery finds the gun positions quickly, and the Italian batteries throughout the day are forced to move from one point to another. Italian troops are reported to be deserting at the rate of about a battalion a week.

Italians in Abyssinia are greatly demoralized by the complete absence of Italian aircraft, due to the supremacy of the R.A.F., who are bombing military objectives and patrolling over Keren, says a correspondent with the Imperial forces, according to British Official Wireless.

The liberating forces, consisting of Sudan Defence Force units, regular Ethiopian units officered bj- the British, and patriot irregulars and guerrilla bands led by feudal chiefs, continue to harass the enemy retreating toward Debra, in the Gondar area, where it is understood that important forces are gathering. From the morning of March 4 to the evening of March 5 300 prisoners were taken. In addition, there were 2700 deserters and a number of casualties in the course of the Italian retreat from Burye, where the Italian forces numbered 5000. Patrol activities are going on at Keren, where the British forces and patriots inflicted 40 casualties on the Italians with no losses to themselves. In this region contact with the forces due west of Keren is impossible because of the thickness of the undergrowth and the mountains. The Foreign Legion has now joined the other Free French unit of colonial infantry. Keren is being defended by the Italians wifh the greatest energy, though from time to time numbers of soldiers are deserting. The Italians are losing considerable important material in their retreat, including guns and lorries which the patriots are now using. Health of Troops. An East African correspondent remarks that the low casualties sustained by the Imperial forces against the Italians have been equalled by Ehe triumph of the medical authorities in preventing' the progress of disease among the troops. In earlier wars in this field there was terrible danger of heavy death rates. In eight months 35 Europeans have died of sickness. South African deaths from all diseases were at a rate of only three per thousand annually. Another comparison is that sickness rates in tile field were slightly lower than among troops in camp in the Union. »

In earlier wars it was not uncommon to have more than half the men laid up with malaria and deaths from dysentery were numerous. So far there has been little malaria and the dysentery reported has been of a medium type. .Reasons for the difference in the average are due probably to the extent of one-third the result of a better climate and two-thirds of a better knowledge of health and hygiene precautions. About two per cent, of the forces, including South Africans, are in hospital from all causes, accidents or disease. Plague, sleeping sickness and typhoid are unknown.

An R.A.F. communique reports that in Italian East Africa air support was given our troops on all fronts, particularly near Keren, where a number of bombing raids was made on the railway, road junctions and enemy positions. From all these operations our aircraft returned safely. A Cairo headquarters communique says that in Libya, Eritrea and Abyssinia there is no change in the situation. In Italian Somaliland, in all areas, operations continue to develop successfully. Earlier Reports.

A communique issued by General Headquarters in Cairo states: “In Libya and Eritrea there is nothing important to report. “In Abyssinia our patrols on the Gondar Road are now operating east of Amanit. In these operations against Italian garrison withdrawals from Burye patriot forces have taken 300 prisoners, two mechanical transport vehicles, and four field guns, and shot down one enemy aircraft. In addition, a total of 1700 deserters have come into our lines.

“In Italian Somaliland, while our advance along the line of the main Mogadishu-Jijiga road is steadily progressing, operations in other areas continue to develop to our advantage. A message from Khartoum states that the South Africans are 200 miles north of Mogadishu. Tanks and armoured units are making rapid progress over roads that are little mor-? than desert tracks. The Italians have no fixed defences, because they did not foresee the rapid British advance. Much Air Activity.

A communique issued by the Royal Air Force, Middle Fast, states: “There was considerable air activity by the Royal Air Force and South African aircraft in Eritrea yesterday and the previous day, particularly in the Keren area. Enemy troops, gun positions, motor transport, and other military targets such as road junctions and railways were bombed and machinegunned. ‘A flying-boat moored at Zula was machine-gunned and burnt out. At Asmara an attack was made on a supply depot ship. “On other fronts in Italian East Africa continued support has been given to our advancing troops. “In Albania enemy artillery post tions at Luzatl were successfully bombed by our aircraft. From all these operations our aircraft returned safely with the exception of the fighter lost in the engagement over Malta.”