BATTLE FOR DESSIE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1941, Page 8

BATTLE FOR DESSIE

ENEMY POSITIONS STORMED ITALIANS’ RAPID RETREAT [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, April 25. The fiercest fighting of the whole Abyssinian campaign took place when South African troops smashed through the mountain barriers in front of Dessie. The crisis occurred .on Wednesday afternoon, when Transvaal and Natal troops stormed Italian positions at the head of a gorge, at a height of 6000 feet. The Italians were dislodged from their mountain positions, and broke and fled, after two hours of fierce fighting. British mechanised patrols continue to press the enemy from the north.

A communique says: “In Abyssinia, although demolitions are still hampering our progress, increasing pressure is being maintained on the enemy holding covering positions north and south of Dessie. Meanwhile, satisfactory progress is being made by our various columns operating in southern areas. Our troops have occupied Maji, a large town in south-west Abyssinia, near the Sudan border and north of Lake Rudolf.”

A Nairobi communique says that in the Dessie sector British troops have forced the enemy’s forward defences. Latest reports state that the enemy is retreating, and as usual, is covering his withdrawal with extensive demolitions.

ACTIVITIES IN LIBYA

RUGBY, April 24

A Middle East communique says that in Libya vigorous activities by British patrols continue in the areas round Tobruk and Solium.

According to a Vichy report, Germany and Italy are believed to have an army of 200,000 in Libya, including two armoured divisions, and also 1200 aeroplanes. According to the official French News Agency, the German force originally comprised about 60,000 men, but considerable reinforcements are reported to have arrived by air, and tanks and transport vehicles by sea. z

TOBRUK REPULSES ATTACK.

RUGBY, April 25

A Cairo communique states: In Libya, yesterday, the enemy made a further attack on the outer defences of Tobruk. This was repulsed with heavy enemy losses, who left in our hands two officers and 125 other ranks, of whom a number were German. In the Solium area, our patrols have again been aggressive. _ Our forward move in the Dessie sector of Abyssinia is .again continuing. During the operations yesterday, the enemy sustained heavy casualties. Over seven hundred prisoners have so far been counted. North-west of Addis Ababa, a further 112 prisoners were captured, from another enemy column -which is being closely pursued. Further south, pressure on the enemy is being maintained in all sectors. R.A.F. ACTIVITIES. ’ ENEMY CENTRES BOMBED. RUGBY, April 25. Strong offensive operations by British bombers throughout the Mediterranean theatre of war were recorded in a R.A.F. Middle East communique on Thursday night, viz.: “More than a dozen large fifes were started in Benghazi as the result of a heavy raid by R.A.F. planes on April 22/23. Flames were visible 50 miles away. Enemy aircraft were dispersed at Derna, the landing ground being attacked on Wednesday, but full details of the damage done were not observed. At other places in Cyrenaica enemy motor transport concentrations were bombed and machine-gunned, much damage being caused. Over Tobruk our fighters intercepted a very large force of enemy aircraft, and shot down four Junkers 87’s, and four Messerschmitt Ill’s. Three of our aircraft were lost in this combat, but two pilots were saved. - “On the night of April 22/23, an aerodrome at Calato was raided successfully. The same night the main harbour of Rhodes was heavily -attacked, and a large explosion was caused, being followed by a fire which was still burning fiercely some time after the bombing. Tripoli harbour was also raided. One stick of bombs straddled a large ship, and there were many near misses to other shipping. Explosions occurred on the north side of the harbour. From all these operations one bomber failed to return.” ANOTHER BUSY DAY RUGBY, April 25. A Middle East communique stated: “In Cyrenaica, enemy transport and mechanised units were persistently bombed and machine-gunned, by aircraft of the R.A.F. yesterday. A considerable number ’of enemy vehicles were destroyed or damaged. “Enemy aircraft, dispersed on the landing grounds at Derna and El Gazala, were bombed, but weather conditions prevented full observation of the damage caused. “Over Tobruk four enemy aircraft were shot down by one of our fighter squadrons, which has achieved very considerable success during the last few weeks.

“One of our fighters was shot down while on patrol in Greece. The enemy raided an R.A.F. aerodrome, and some damage was caused to aircraft dispersed on the ground. “In Abyssinia, aircraft of the R.A.F. and the South African Air Force continue to support our troops by bombing enemy motor transport and gun emplacements. “Malta was raided on April 23. Our fighters intercepted the enemy, and in the ensuing combat one of our aircraft was lost. No material damage was caused by the raid. Apart from the two fighters already mentioned, our aircraft returned from all these operations.”

MALTA’S WORST RAID.

LONDON, April 24

The Valetta correspondent of “The Times” says Malta’s rock shelters stood the test splendidly during the worst raid ever on the night of April 22-23. The casualties were light. Urban and rural districts were bombed intensely, and there was heavy damage in a densely populated part

of the town. Historic buildings and warehouses were demolished.

GERMANS IN N. AFRICA

RUGBY, April 25.

Infiltration of Cj.erman agents into French North Africa is not taking place unnoticed, as the Nazis had intended. The fact that some hundreds of key men are now concentrating in positions of control at certain ports and aerodromes,- and that there have been recent increases in the numbers of these “tourists” is Well known to the authorities here. Morocco, and notably Casablanca, is the chief centre of their activities, and only comparatively few have so far found their way into Algeria and Tunis. The purpose of their infiltration is clear to all students of German methods in other countries which have fallen under German domination. The French civilian population in Morocco, who are indignant at this influx of Germans, are reported to be on the alert to prevent them securing control of public services, although very few of these agents are reported in Algeria and Tunis, and while there is.no con-1 firmation of a report that Germans actually are passing from Tunis into Libya, the German abuse of French territorial waters in getting supplies to Tripoli under cover of the Tunis coast south of Cape Boni is well established.