TIDE OF REVOLT
—+ SURGE IN ETHIOPIA RISING OF PATRIOTS RALLY TO SELASSIE BRITISH AIR RAIDS AXIS PLANES DESTROYED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Feb. 20, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 19. From all parts of Abyssinia comes news of the rising tide of Ethiopian revolt which is sweeping across the Gojjam uplands and drawing ever nearer to Addis Ababa. Already around the capital there are reported to be between 10,000 and 15,000 patriots in arms. Haile Sellassie’s troops are now approaching Burye, which is a vital communication base. Sudan patriot troops from Kurmuk have invested Asosa, while the British pressure is increasing in * Eritrea and Somaliland. The Patriots, led by British officers and Haile Selassie’s chief lieutenant, scored a most important victory when they captured Dangila after three days of encounter. The attackers harassed the Italian garrison of three battalions with machine-gun and rifle fire and made several sorties to the edge of the defences. Many of the defenders, including white officers, fell to point-blank fire. Patriots Save Town The Italians .prepared to evacuate and started to set fire to the petrol * dumps and houses, but the Patriots charged in the darkness and saved most of this large market town. The Italians fled with the black troops picking them off from the forests in the rear. They are retreating toward country which is already pocketed with Ethiopian positions. The capture of Dangila gives the Royal Air Force landing grounds within easy range of Burye, Addis Ababa, Debramarkos and Debratabor.
South African troops are engaged in the whole Kismayu region, where the Italian forces are putting up strong’ resistance a few miles to the west of the town. Lorries are constantly rumbling into Kismayu. Natives in the Kismayu region enthusiastically welcome the British forces.
A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: “Aerodromes in the Dodecanese Islands were, raided-by Royal Air Force bombers on the nights of February 16 and 17. j
Air Force Support To Troops
“Continued support has been given to our troops on various fronts in Italian Africa. Several raids were carried out on Keren and military objectives nearby. Fighters of the South African Air Force, while on offensive patrols, .destroyed two S79’s. Aircraft on the ground at Kakale were machine-gunned, and one bomber was seen to be burning. Enemy fighters intercepted the British aircraft, but were driven off.
"Bomber squadrons of the South African Air Force have been very active over Italian Somaliland during the last few days; Heavy bombs were dropped on the Italian headquarters and stores- near Bardera. Other aircraft attacked defence positions north of Jelib, on the Juba River. Aircraft barracks at Escia-Bardera and a camp at Dinsor -were also raided.. Raids on Benghazi ’ "Enemy aircraft carried out raids on Benghazi on February 16 and 18. One enemy aircraft was shot down by a squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force and several others were so badly damaged that it • is unlikely they reached the base. One other German bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft Are. “From all the operations under review the British aircraft returned safely with the exception of one bomber, which so far has failed to return to its base.” An Italian communique says: “We repulsed a fresh violent attack at Jarabub. The Italian air force effectively bombed British motorised units attempting to approach our positions at Kufra. The Luftwaffe bombed enemy ships, harbour installations and a considerable concentration of British mechanised forces in North Africa. We repulsed British attempts to approach our positions on the Kenya front, inflicting the greatest losses. The tenacious resistance of the troops in the Keren area brought the enemy offensive to a standstill.”
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20486, 21 February 1941, Page 11
Word Count
608TIDE OF REVOLT Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20486, 21 February 1941, Page 11
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