BRITISH DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 9

BRITISH DRIVE

REMARKABLE PACE SOMALILAND GAIN ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA NAZIS TO AID FASCISTS NEW MOTORISED UNITS (Elec. Tel, Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.46 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 26. The capture of Mogadiscio in Italian Somaliland underlines the remarkable pace with which this campaign is making progress. A communique stated: “Advanced elements of our East and West African troops occupied Mogadiscio in the evening of February 25.”

Mogadiscio is some 120 miles northeast up the coast from Brava, the port 160 miles north of Kismayu, the capture of which was announced some days ago. The capture of Brava, announced yesterday from Nairobi, is today also confirmed in a Cairo communique. Mogadiscio is a harbour town with a population of about 50,000, of whom 21,000 are Italians. Since 1935, when Mogadiscio was used by the Italians as a main southern base for the Abyssinian campaign, . there has been considerable traffic through the port and plans have been drawn up for its enlargement and reconstruction. A Cairo communique states: “In Eritrea our northern column advancing towards Keren again made satisfactory progress. About Keren itself local activity continues. Abyssinian Patriots f‘ln Abyssinia the . Patriot forces, supported by British troops, have successfully increased the areas of penetration in the Gojjam and further south, causing the evacuation of main Italian posts. Following the enemy withdrawal from Italian and British Moyale both places have been occupied by South African troops. “In Italian Somaliland West African troops yesterday captured Brava, from which port our advance is again continuing. In the Gelib area the prisoners so far counted number 66 officers and 432 Italian anft other ranks, together with 886 colonial troops.” A Nairobi communique states: “A South African formation captured Gelib after having crossed the River Juba near the mouth and carried out an, exceedingly rapid and vigorous march for 60 miles up river, clearing the enemy opposition all: the way. Here East African and Gold Coast troops carried out a night march through dense country, and cut the only ro.ad communication between Gelib and Brava, thus preventing the escape of the main body. .. Gold Coast Brigade “The Gold Coast brigade, which had borne the brunt of early fighting across the Juba River, completed the operation and cut off all avenues of escape to the north. A conservative estimate puts the number of prisoners at 3000 and in addition many of the enemy who escaped into the bush are now returning and giving themselves u p” m ",.* ; t .. The pilot of a plane reported that enemy forces retreating along a beach 30 ; miles from the Juba waved white flags in token of their desire to surrender as soon as they observed the plane. . ; . ; ,• A large quantity of guns and ammunition of all kinds has been captured. It will take a considerable time to recover and check this material. • ’,•••• The South African Air Force cooperated in the capture of Gelib, machine-gunning enemy transport which was trying to escape. The bombardment of enemy positions and dumps further along the coast was successfully carried out by the navy. Versions of Axis An Italian communique says: “The Italians are, resisting enemy pressure at.Jarabub and Kufra and also resisting eastwards of the Juba River.” The Rome correspondent of the Frankfurter Zeitung says that news that German motorised . forces had landed in Tripoli, despite the British blockade, caused the greatest enthusiasm. “The Italians are concentrating hopes on German motorised forces taking the offensive against the British forces,” adds the correspondent. “German fnotorised units have been concentrated in the south of Italy. This is the reason for recent over-burdening of the Italian railways.” , £ German communique states: "British and German patrols met on February 24 south-eastwards of Agedabia on the, Libyan coast. Our units destroyed a. number of British lorries and armoured observation cars and captured, prisoners. There were no German losses.”