DRIVE IN ERITREA

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 11

DRIVE IN ERITREA

OPERATIONS AGAINST KEREN PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS ARRAZA ABYSSINIANS EXTENDING THEIR CONTROL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 14. .(Received February 15, at 10.30 a.m.) A Cairo headquarters communique says: In Eritrea the operations for the reduction of Keren are proceeding, while British troops continue to progress in difficult country towards Arraza. In co-operation with British activities in Abyssinia the patriot force is steadily extending the spheres of its control. On the other fronts the situation is unchanged. Subjected throughout the day and night to aerial and artillery bombardment, the Italians at Keren are not only defending the town with unwonted vigour, but they are counterattacking with some violence, hinging in upwards of 25,000 men. The toughest resistance lies westward of Keren. Last night we launched a terrific attack at this point with devastating artillery support. Yesterday’s attack was the twentieth -against Keren and also the most concentrated. The Belgrade correspondent of the ‘ Daily Express ’ states that Italian East Africa is generally considered to be lost. Casualties reported in the Rress, especially from Abyssinia, indicate that the Italian losses are greater than the British. ITALIAN COMMUNIQUES. Italian communiques suggest that -18 Italian planes have been put out of action in Albania since February 9. of which 29 were destroyed and 43 ■<irmen killed. It is revealed that nearly 1.000 Italian war planes have been destroyed in Africa.