KEREN IN BRITISH HANDS

Evening Star, Issue 23846, 28 March 1941, Page 5

KEREN IN BRITISH HANDS

Italians Yield To Constant Pressure SPECTACULAR FINAL ASSAULT Enemy Also Evacuates Harar RETREAT ON ALL FRONTS REPORTED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March' 27. ; {Received March 28, at noon.) It is officially announced that Keren and Harar have been captured. Earlier a Cairo communique dealing with the situation at Keren stated: ' Our troops have made further important gains, beating off several counterattacks and capturing a number of prisoners, Including a complete brigade headquarters. The enemy casualties during the last 48 hours have been . heavier than before. It has later been disclosed in London that British and Indian troops, forming the spearhead of the assault, scaled mountain cliffs thousands of feet high overlooking the Italian positions at Keren, and were able to throw hand grenades on Italian gun positions. The finial assault took place on Tuesday afternoon after several days' meticulous planning. The first attack of a fortnight ago on this strong garrison town revealed the great difficulties of taking the place, and the success of the second operation is a tribute to British pluck and coolness. Many hundreds of prisoners were taken, including a number from crack regiments of the Italian army. Those captured included the whole of a brigade staff. British troops entered the town of Keren on Wednesday morning at 7, o'clock. Italians streaming from Keren towards Asmara are being heavily shelled and bombed from the air. ■ It is estimated that the garrison of Keren numbered from 60,000 to 70,000 troops, including metropolitan and colonial regiments and some of the best artillery in the Italian army. For a fortnight the Italians had been . incessantly pounded by British artillery and aircraft. Harar, the second city of Abyssinia, was occupied by the troops that swept on from Jigjiga. ; In southern Abyssinia the Italian troops are reported to be retreating on all sectors. '