WAR IN ABYSSINIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1941, Page 7

WAR IN ABYSSINIA

EARLY END PREDICTED

KEREN’S CAPTURE DIFFICULT

[by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT ]

LONDON, March 17.

The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says the British are now within easy gun range of Jig Jiga, in Abyssinia. The final phase of the Ethiopian offensive has begun and the capitulation of the Italians is foreseen early in April. Belgians sent across from the Congo are now fighting with the Imperial forces in Africa. This was disclosed in a communique from British Headquarters in Cairo, which said that in the operations leading to the capture of Asosa in Western Abyssinia, Belgian troops fought side by side with the British. The Allied armies in Africa thus include Free French, Poles, Czechs, Abyssinians, and Belgians. Information from Cairo is to the effect that the Italians in Somaliland did not expect that the British would attack until after the rains. The suddenness and efficiency of the British attack was the main reason for its smashing success. The Italians also attached too much importance to the natural defence offered by the Juba river, which they considered insurmountable. They are amazed by the efficiency of the British motor transport, which leaves them gaping, and the quality of which makes them envious.

The morale of the Italian Askari troops is said to be low. This arises from the fact that they have had no pay, poor food, and bad equipment. Bad feeling is also reported between Italian Royalists and Fascists. Some of the difficulties in the Keren sector have been described by the British Broadcasting Corporation’s observer in the Middle East (Mr. Richard Dimbleby). He states that the task given to the British is as tough as any given to any troops in history. The advance on Keren is along a dusty road from Kassala. About three miles before reaching Keren it climbs into a mountain chain and then enters a gorge. A chain of high peaks occupied by the Italians dominates the road. These peaks have to be taken before the Italians can be dislodged from the town.

BERBER A RECAPTURED.

RUGBY, March 17.

After eight months of Italian occupation, Berbera, the capital of British Somaliland, is again in British hands.

A Cairo headquarters communique states: “In Libya there is no change in the situation.

“British and Indian troops in Eritrea captured an important heights position covering Keren. “The general advance of the Imperial and Patriot forces continues on all sectors of Abyssinia. “The British flag again flies over Berbera. It was recaptured yesterday after British troops had made a successful landing, in co-operation with units of the Royal Navy.”

MANY PRISONERS TAKEN

RUGBY, March 17.

Further details of the British reoccupation of Berbera, the capital of British Somaliland, show that the landing troops were convoyed by warships. Machine-gun and artillery fire was encountered from the shore, but was quickly overcome by the fire from the British ships. One hundred prisoners have already been taken, and more are coming in. The British casualties are negligible.

R.A.F. SUCCESSES.

RUGBY, March 17.

An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “In Tripolitania, on the night of March 15/16, a heavy attack was carried out on aerodromes at Caste! Benito and Makina. A direct hit was registered on an ammunition dump at Benito aerodrome, and other fires were started on the south side. At Makina, bombs were dropped among the dispersed aircraft, starting a number of fires which destroyed at least four enemy aircraft. Others were severely damaged by a bomb. Blast fires were also caused among the buildings, and as the last bomber left, a violent explosion occurred among the dispersed aircraft. “Very heavy attacks were carried out on enemy positions in and around Keren (Eritrea) both yesterday and on the previous day. British aircraft bombed and machine-gunned motor transport and troop concentrations as well as the railway and roads. “Malta was raided by enemy aircraft on the night of March 15/16, but there were no damage nor casualties. It is now reported that in a very successful attack on the Diredawa aerodrome on March 15, in which the enemy lost eight aircraft, two British aircraft did not return. The pilot of one, however, is safe. From all the other operations, the British aircraft returned safely with the exception of one bomber.”

CAPTURED BOMBER USED

RUGBY, March 17.

The only Italian bomber to fly over Nairobi, states the Air Ministry News Service, did so the other day, piloted by a South African Air Force pilot. As the aircraft, a Caproni 133, circled the town, the Italian marking, a white cross on the tail, was easily discernible, but no air-raid warning was sounded, for on the fuselage and wings were roundells bearing the colours of the S.A.A.F.

-The Caproni, a three-engined mpnoplane, had been flown 650 miles from Mogadishu, where it was left by the Italians, in process of overhaul, when they made their hurried departure. “The engines,” said one of the crew, “had apparently just been put back, as they were loosely bolted down. Other parts, which had been taken off the aircraft for inspection, were found near at hand. It was clear that the Italians had downed tools suddenly, and fled'. We walked in, and completed the overhaul.” A mechanic with ten years’ experience described the Caproni’s superstructure as primitive. He added that, although the general performance of the aircraft was not good, it was particularly steady in the air. The Caproni was flown to Nairobi by a lieutenant-colonel of the.S.A.A.F. who was awarded the D.F.C. some months ago.

DARING RESCUE.

RUGBY, March 17

The brief phrase “The pilot of one aircraft is safe,” in an R.A.F. Middle East communique, when describing the attack on the Diredawa aerodrome on March 15, is vididly illustrated by a statement in an air communique issued in Nairobi, which says: “The pilot landed under artillery fire, arid was picked up by his fellow-pilot, who flew the single-seater home.

AWARDS FOR GOOD SERVICE.

RUGBY, March 17

Squadron Leader R. M. Longmore, son of Air Chief Marshal Sir A. Longmore, Air Officer Commanding in the Middle East, is among many R.A.F. personnel whose services are recognised in the latest list of awards. Squadron Leader Longmore was born in 1915, and was commissioned from Cranwell in 1935 he has received the 0.8. E.

The awards range through almost every rank of the service. Air ViceMarshals N. H. Bottomley, F. J. Linell, H. R. M. Reid, and R. E. Saul receive the C.B. Acting Air ViceMarshal C. R. Bromet, Air Commodore E. S. Goodwin, and Group Captain G. M. Lawson received the C. 8., and 44 officers besides Squadron Leader Longmore are awarded the 0.8. E.

Other awards comprise one M.C., two A.F.C.S. (one posthumous), two M.M., three A.F.M V and 14 M.B.’s.