ADVANCE CONTINUES

Evening Star, Issue 23830, 10 March 1941, Page 7

ADVANCE CONTINUES

.THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN BRITISH FORGES ON ROAD TO HARAR MERCILESS PRESSURE BY ABYSSINIAN PATRIOTS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, March 9. (Received March 10, at 11.30 a.m.) A Cairo headquarters communique states: In Libya and Eritrea there is nothing of importance to report. The vigorous pursuit by the patriot forces of Abyssinia of the retreating Burye garrison is continuing. British troops in Italian Somaliland have occupied Gabre Darra on the man road from Mogadishu to Harar. On other fronts the extension of the British areas of occupation is proceeding, with many additions to the number of prisoners already taken.

An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: R.A.F. bombers inflicted considerable damage on the Kercn-Asinara road in Italian East Africa, and attacked enemy troop positions in the Keren areas. South African fighter planes machine-gunned and burned out two oil dumps and a lorry south of Asmara. In Libya, during the night of March 7-8 R.A.F. bombers attacked the harbour of Tripoli. Bombs were observed bursting on the railway line. Enemy aerodromes in Tripolitania were also bombed. From all these operar tions our planes returned safely.” A Cairo message states that patriots from Burye have driven the Italians beyond Dambacha by keeping up a merciless pressure from all sides. South Africans have occupied Dolo and are pushing on to the north-west,. The Italians are in full, flight from Ogaden, and our planes report that white flags are being shown at points over 100 miles ahead of the most advanced! British forces in this area, where the Italians are believed to have no forts nearer than Harar.