AFRICAN OPERATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 11

AFRICAN OPERATIONS

NEW SUCCESSES

ITALIAN SOMALILAND

IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED

LONDON, February 14.

Brilliant new successes by British East African troops in Italian Somaliland are reported. They have captured in quick succession two important Italian positions, together with nine armoured cars and quantities of war material.

One of the positions is an administrative centre, about 80 miles from the Kenya border. The other is on the Juba river. The communique announcing these captures says that on Tuesday our East African troops attacked Asmadu, the town referred to. After heavy raids by the South African Air Force on Monday, a large proportion of the garrison fled, leaving a few halfhearted defenders.

The operations were carried out without loss to ourselves.

In the operations against the second position' on the Juba river strong resistance was met with, but the operations were completely successful, and the enemy abandoned the position.

Here, too, much material was captured. The communique adds that the South African Air Force is rapidly assuming air superiority. Today's Cairo communique says that operations for the reduction of Keren, in Eritrea, are going well, and our troops continue their progress. On this front the R.A.F. is giving valuable support, particularly at Keren. There is no change in the position on the Libyan front. A further 14 unserviceable aircraft were discovered at the Benina aerodrome, and 40 at Berka. This brings the total up to 100, and it makes clear that the 'R.A.F. carried out its work of devastation with thoroughness. During the last two days the Benghazi aerodrome has been raided by the enemy, but only slight damage has been done. During Wednesday night Benghazi was raided by planes which were believed to be German. Some damage was done to civilian buildings.