KASSALA REGAINED

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1941, Page 7

KASSALA REGAINED

ENEMY TERRITORY ENTERED ABYSSIMANS CO-OPERATING [by- cable— press assn.—copyright.] LONDON, January 20. ? British forces have won another important victory over the Italians by the capture of Kassala, in AngloEgyptian Sudan, near the border of Eritrea, and mobile units have advanced some miles into Eritrea. Some distance inside Eritrea the ground starts to rise, and it is considered that the Italians in retreat along the Kassala front will withdraw until the plain gives way to hills, where they can'offer resistance. Kassala was occupied by the Italians ?arly in July last year, when the British garrison wnhdrew in the face of a force consisting of light tanks, mechanised units, and bomber aircraft. They then strongly fortified the position, which is of great importance, as it opens the way to Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Its capture by the British also means that the Italian threat to the Tsana Dam, controlling the waters.of the Blue Nile, is now removed. It has also removed a source

of trouble to railway transport tc Khartoum. A Cairo message says that the Italians abandoned Kassala presumably because of increasing native resistance in Eritrea and Abyssinia, and frequen: losses of irreplaceable men and material from supply convoys necessary to maintain the Kassala garrison. While the Italians are retreating along the Kassala front, British patrols some 200 miles further south are continuing their operations round Metemma, just inside the Abyssinian border to the east of Gallabat. These activities' are probably timed to coincide with attacks being made inside Abyssinia by trained Abyssinian .troops. It is revealed that members of the British military mission in Abyssinia have operated singly. Accompanied by a couple of Sudanese soldiers, they have used little-known . mountair paths to reach the headquarters of key tribes. They have mostly operated in the north of Abyssinia, but one got close to Addis Ababa. One membei of the mission was missing for weeks

CONTINUED PROGRESS RUGBY, January 20. The further retreat of Italians into Eritrea is reported by a Cairo headquarters communique, which states that in Libya there is nothing to report. In the Sudan, the enemy withdrawal on the Kassala front continues. The localities about Sabderat and Tennaniu, which the Italians, strongly fortified, were occupied yesterday without opposition by our troops, who are now operating eastwards, in contact with the retreating enemy. In the Metemma area our patrols were again active. In Kenya, by continued offensive action, our mobile detachments are steadily gaining ground, inflicting casualties, on the enemy. j; -, r -- •;. BRITISH MISSION’S ADVENTURES ’ RUGBY, January 20. Stirring accounts are published in the Press of the activities of the small party of British officers and N.C.O’s, who since July, from secret headquarters some hundreds of miles inside the Abyssinian frontier, have, been organising resistance to the Italians, by Abyssinian patriots, and training the Ethiopians in the use of modem war weapons, which Britain has been constantly sending by mule and camel convoys from the Sudan during the past few months. Their presence within the enemy lines soon became known to the Italians, who unsuccessfully combed the countryside to discover them. On one occasion, a battalion, sent in pursuit, was within a few hundred yards of the mission, the members of which had remained in a deep gorge until immediate danger was passed. Later, they proceeded to their headquarters in a remote area from which their only communication with the outside world was by courier. From there, they harassed enemy lines of communications, reconnoitring Italian positions, and helping to guide British bombers to vulnerable places. The position of the Italians throughout East Africa has become increasingly perilous. Operations leading to" the re-occupation of Kassala Were carried out in face of superior enemy forces, and comprised continuous patrol activities, aimed at enemy lines of communication. They were so successful that the evacuation of Kassala became necessary. It is expected that Mr. Eden will take an early opportunity of making a full important statement on the events in the East African theatre, with particular reference to the situation in Abyssinia, where recently the revolt has been spreading lyABYSSINIAN OPTIMISM. (Received January 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 20.

The Empress of Abyssinia, with her daughters, Tsahai and Tenogne, and six grandchildren, has left London on the’, first stage of her journey to join Haile Selassie. The Crown Jewels are already packed, in preparation for the re-establish-ment of the Court at Addis Ababa. S. AFRICAN CAPTURES RUGBY, January 20. A Nairobi communique states: South African troops captured prisoners in the El Yibo area, close to the Italian frontier, north of Dukana. The enemy dead include two European officers and nine natives. Four light machine-guns and some material have also been captured Active patrolling has been carried out on all fronts. A clash between one of our patrols and an enemy patrol on the El Wak road resulted in our capturing one enemy banda, with no loss to ourselves. Enemy aircraft bombed El Yibo, on the morning of January 19, but caused no casualties or damage.

AROUND TOBRUK. LONDON, January 20. The first report of the Royal Navy takjng part in the offensive against Tobruk has come from a correspondent in the Western Desert, who says that units of the Navy glide up the cpagt all day long to take their part in the attack; Empire troops are hard at work repairing lines of communication which

were so heavily damaged when they were in Italian hands. There has been no sign of Italian activity west of Tobruk. . The Italian garrison in Tobruk has been putting up heavy gunfire when British aeroplanes fly over, and it has tried to wreck the aerodrome at El Adem by fire from the cruiser San Giorgio, which is lying damaged in the harbour. R.A.F. ACTIVITY RUGBY, January 20. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: Although operations were restricted by weather, the R.A.F. carried out a number of reconnaissance fighter patrols in the forward areas. In Albania, a successful raid was made on Berati. Explosives and incendiaries fell on military concentrations, motor transport, and buildings east of the town. Several fires were started* In Italian East Africa motor transport and gun positions were attacked east of Tesseni on the night of January 18-19 All the bombs fell on the target area, but the results could not be fully observed. Massawa was twice raided on-the same night. Fires were started and the attack presed home despite intensive antiaircraft fire. Raids were also made on Assab and Hargeisa. All our aircraft returned safely.

AUSSIE BROTHERS KILLED. (Received January 21, 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, January 21. News of the death of his two sons in the Bardia battle has been received by Mr. N. C. Scott, of Melbourne. Their names have not yet appeared in the official casualty lists. This is the first instance of two brothers being killed in the A.I.F. in this war. On Friday, the father was informed that Sergeant J. Scott had been killed. To-day, he was advised Of the death of Driver Russell Scott. Both were single.

RAIDS ON MALTA. 87 DIVE-BOMBERS LOST. LONDON, January 20. The Germans have lost at least. 87 dive-bombers since they came to the aid of the Italians in the Mediterranean. It is officially announced in Malta that at least 15 raiders were shot down yesterday, and it is confirmed that 10 and probably 13 were brought down on Saturday. Thus the Germans have, in attacks on Malta in the last five days, lost at least 35 divebombers. British losses of aircraft have been three, but one pilot has been saved. In addition, the Germans lost at. least 12 aeroplanes when they attacked British warships in the Sicilian Channel and 30 to 40 were destroyed at Catania, in Sicily. Considerable damage was done to civilian property at Malta. The Germans made five raids yesterday, beginning in the morning with an onslaught on the harbour. Severe damage was done to a 400-year-old church.