OPERATIONS IN AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 51, 1 March 1941, Page 9

OPERATIONS IN AFRICA

BRITISH PRESSURE

IMPROVED POSITION AT KEREN y

ROUT OF ITALIANS

JUBA RIVER ACTION

LONDON, February 28.

Today's picture of operations in Africa is given by the communiques which say that in Eritrea, as the result of the vigorous advance, the British northern forces are now in contact with the enemy troops holding covering positions north of Keren. Meanwhile, by local activity, the British have improved their positions ■ west of the town. The R.A.F. has attacked enemy troop positions south of Keren and bombed the railway track from Keren to Asmara. In Abyssinia, in the face of in- [ creasing patriot pressure, Italian [evacuation of military posts in the Gojjam continues. R.A.F. bombers raided motor transport, repair shops, etc, . Operations are progressing satisfactorily on all sectors in Italian Somaliland, where South African bombers have raided barracks and warehouses on the roads leading north and northwest of Mogadishu. Enemy lorries on the road north of Mogadishu were also i attacked.

Further details of the drive into Italian Somaliland have come from a correspondent with the South African forces. He tells how the threat to the Juba River defences caused the Italians to rush two crack battalions from a position in Abyssinia. These troops were unable to prevent what eventually developed into a rout. South I African and Gold Coast troops scat-! tered an entire enemy division on the j Juba River, capturing three brigadiers! and 3000 prisoners. At Gelib, a Natal unit distinguished itself by capturing more Italian prisoners than its own total strength. Nearly a thousand more prisoners were taken by Transvaal and Cape units. A Cairo communique says that photographs taken during a reconnaissance over Tripoli sh6w that as the result of the raid on Monday night two of the power station buildings were completely burnt out. THE TAKING OF MEGA. Graphic details have been released of the taking of Mega, 40 miles from the 'Kenya frontier. It is a story of triumph against formidable odds, including the precipitous climbing of a mountain side, torrential icy rains, thunder and; lightning, and-.grave danger from lavishly-strewn enemy land mines. The heroic exploits of the South African troops and their hardihood, courage, and endurance are bound to be recorded in-, the war history. The final attack came after four days of extremely difficult progress. Ankle deep in mud, drenched to the skin, shivering with cold, and under heavy Italian fire, the South Africans stormed a 3000-foot mountainside and took an enemy observation post. The troops were so cold and wet during the operations that they had to strip themselves and beat each other's bodies to restore the circulation.

Brilliant air co-operation on the fifth day effectively helped to break the Italian resistance. Soon the white flag went up from Mega, and in a little time, in spite of the exhaustion of the attacking force, a stream of enemy troops .came out to surrender. Among them vtas the Governor of the province.