RED SEA COAST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20488, 24 February 1941, Page 5

RED SEA COAST

ALLIED LANDING PRESSING ITALIANS DRIVE IN ERITREA ETHIOPIA & SOMALILAND RAIDING BY AIR FORCE (Flue. Till. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Feb. 24, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23. For the first time since the attack on Eritrea, Britain landed forces on the Red Sea coast, where Free French detachments which were carried overland by lorries from the Chad to the Sudan disembarked and joined in the drive on Keren. The detachments brought rifles, machine-guns and all equipment except artillery, which the British supplied. Their commander is a colonel who left Vichy in November in the “hope that the news of our arrival in Eritrea will bring many more Frenchmen to our cause. The majority of Frenchmen are pro-British. Many would join General de Gaulle, but it is difficult to leave France.” A sharp engagement in the Maji region resulted in the Italians leaving 150 dead on the battlefield. Patrolling the Sudan. Patriot troops encountered a greatly superior force and attacked them. The Patriot casualties were slight. Threat to Keren and Asmara Sudanese and Ethiopian forces are investing Burye, to which the Italian El Jabara garrison is attempting to retreat. The southern-most British forces in Eritrea are now threatening both Keren and Asmara from the rear. The Italians reinforced the Kismayu garrison, which was at Jumbo, where the South Africans attacked vigorously. Fierce fighting continues for bridgeheads to the northward. The South African Air Force is constantly harrying the - Italians and has set fire to Gelib, burning out the centre of the village. The King’s African Rifles, landing from dhows, seized two islands in Refuge Bay, just south of Kismayu, which the Italians had evacuated. Brigade Staff Captured It was officially announced yesterday that South African forces had captured Jumbo, in Italian Somaliland. A brigade staff and colonel were taken prisoner and guns and material were captured. A Cairo communique issued yesterday said: “In Eritrea and Abyssinia operations are continuing to develop to our advantage. With the capitulation of the garrison at Mega on Tuesday our South African troops captured over 600 prisoners, mostly Europeans, together with some guns and many machine-guns. In - Italian Somaliland operations east of the Juba River are progressing satisfactorily.” A Royal Air Force Middle Bast communique issued yesterday states: “Air activity in Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia continued unabated yesterday. Bombers of the South African Air Force attacked troop concentrations on the banks of the Juba River and motor transport in the Jelib (Gelib) area and west of Mogadiscio. Raiding of Aerodromes “Aerodromes at Chinele and Diredawa were also raided yesterday by Royal Air Force bombers. At Chinele enemy aircraft and stores concealed in scrub alongside the landing ground were heavily attacked. Direct hits were obtained on the railway station and military barracks at Diredawa. “South African fighters made a lowflying attack on aircraft on the ground at Massawa and also set fire to petrol dumps at Adiagri. “Enemy fighters approached Malta yesterday, but withdrew when our fighters went up to intercept. From all these operations our aircraft returned safely.” An official communique from headquarters of the East African Air Force, dealing with the past few days of intensive operations by the South African Air Force states: “A bomber squadron made a heavy attack against enemy troop concentrations along the east bank of the Juba River, scoring direct hits on defensive positions. There has also been much offensive reconnaissance in the Mega (Abyssinia) area and Jelib (Gelib) and Jumbo and Yonte areas of Italian Somaliland. Italian troops travelling in two lorries near Boda, north of the Juba River, indicated to our aircraft that they desired to surrender.”