FURTHER PROGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 23882, 12 May 1941, Page 7

FURTHER PROGRESS

IMPERIAL FORGES IN ABYSSINIA ADVANCING ON AMBA ALAGI CAIRO, May 10. In Abyssinia, Imperial forces, advancing from both the north and south on Amba Alagi have made further progress, capturing prisoners and inflicting casualties on the enemy. In the Eastern Gojiam area our troops killed 80 and wounded 200 of the enemy garrison retreating from Debra Marcos. In the south, after heavy fighting spread over some days, the enemy has been ejected from _ strongly-prepared positions, one of which was eight miles in depth. Our leading troops are now approaching a point 45 miles south of Noghelli and Alghe and a similar distance north of Vadellos. Patriots under British officers have captured Orchow. They are reported to be within 18 miles of- the Indian forces advancing from the north, who are now attacking Toselli Pass, in the Amba Alagi mountains. HAILE SELASSIE'S GRATITUDE MESSAGES EXCHANGED WITH MR CHURCHILL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 10. In a telegram to Mr Churchill expressing “gratitude for the'sympathy and kindness shown to his men in the past and for the support of the armed forces in the present,” and his pride in the fact that his own people, in collaboration with the British Imperial forces, would be able to play a part in the defeat of the enemy, the Emperor, Haile Selassie, asked that his thanks be given to the forces which participated in the campaign. Mr Churchill replied: “It was with deep and universal pleasure that the [British nation learned of your Imperial Majesty's welcome home to your capital, Addis Ababa. Your Majesty was the first of the lawful sovereigns to be driven from his throne and country by the Fascist and Nazi criminals, and is now the first to return in triumph. Your Majesty’s thanlks will be duly conveyed to the commanders, officers, and men of the British and Empire forces who aided the Ethiopian patriots in the total final destruction of the Italian military usurpation. The British Government looks forward to .a long period of peace and progress in' Ethiopia after the forces of evil have been finally overthrown.” PRISONERS TAKEN PATROL ACTIVITY IN WESTERN DESERT RUGBY, May 11. (Received May 12, at 10 a.m.) Steady progress in clearing-up operations in Abyssinia is the main feature of the Middle East war communique from Cairo, which states: In the Tobruk and Solium areas our patrols have again been active. Casualties have been inflicted on the enemy and a number of prisoners taken. In Abyssinia Indian troops advancing from the north captured two further important features in the Amba Alagi sector, taking 150 prisoners. Meanwhile our column advancing from the south again made important headway, inflicting serious casualties on the Italian defenders. Further south operations are continuing satisfactorily in every sector. PROLONGED BOMBING DERMA AERODROME SUFFERS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 11. (Received May 12, at 11.25 a.m.) Prolonged bombing of the aerodrome at Derna, an important enemy supply point, had successful results, according to an R.A.F. Middle East communique which states that Derna aerodrome, upon which a considerable number of enemy aircraft were dispersed, was bombed by the R.A.F. during the night of May 9-10 and yesterday. Electric storms, which were most pronounced, prevented some of our aircraft reaching the target, but others got through, and it is believed that the damage caused wa's considerable. At Jedabaya some Junkers 52’s and large troop-carrying aircraft were bombed and damaged. Our fighters maintained active patrols; one Messerschmitt 109 was destroyed on the Gazala aerodrome as it was attempting to take off. There was a large number of enemy aircraft on the aerodrome, and these were machine-gunned by our fighters. NAVY SHELLS BENGHAZI TWO SUPPLY SHIPS DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 10. An Admiralty communique says: “ During the early hours of Thursday morning our naval forces carried out an attack on the harbour of Benghazi, and hits were observed on enemy shipping alongside. Two enemy supply ships were intercepted while approaching the harbour and destroyed. One was of 3,000 tons and the other was an ammunition ship of between 5,000 and 6,000 tons. It was blown to, bits,” MIDDLE EAST COMMAND / GENERAL WILSON'S APPOINTMENT .JERUSALEM, May 11. (Received May 12, at 8 a.m.) General Sir H. Maitland Wilson has assumed command of the British forces in Palestine and Transjordan.