DRIVEN BACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 5

DRIVEN BACK

CHECK IN LIBYA UNITS OF NAZIS BRITISH PRESSURE \ SOMALILAND ADVANCE' ITALIANS SURRENDER (F.lee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Feb. 28, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27. A Cairo communique states: “In Libya advanced elements of our mechanised forces encountered west of Aghelia and drove back a reconnaissance of armoured fighting vehicles believed to be German. “In Eritera, while our forces continue actively to contain the main body of the enemy about Keren, further progress has been made by ° ur column advancing southwards from Kubkub. “In Italian Somaliland the rapid and vigorous advance of the West African forces from the line of the River Juba to the capture of Mogadiscio has evidently demoralised the enemy forces in the area, who are offering -themselves for surrender all along the large stretch of country which we have over-run. Several thousands of prisoners have already been counted and many more continue to come in. In addition large quantities of war material of all kinds have fallen into our hands. Release of Seamen “Not the least satisfactory feature of this highly-successful advance is that we recovered 200 Allied seamen who had been held for many months at Merca by the Italians as prisoners of war. Merca is on the Italian Somaliland coast, about half-way between Brava and Mogadiscio.” A Royal Air Force-Middle East communique states: “In Italian East Africa operations were continued in support of the army offensive on Ml fronts. Stores, troop concentrations and supply, dumps were attacked in the Keren area with good effect. At Assab bombs were dropped on a large transport yard, wliile near Massawa ammunition stores and other military objectives were raided. A railway bridge near Addis Ababa was attacked. One direct hit caused damage to the bridge and the track. Further south aircraft ,®f the South African Air Force bombed the Ferrandi aerodrome, buildings and barracks at Mandera, and barracks and motor transport at Ischia and Baidoa.”

The capture of Mogadiscio was a major stroke in the coastal offensive. Hundreds of miles of country lie between Mogadiscio and Gardafui, but the area is valueless and almost uninhabitable. From Mogadiscio run two all-weather roads, one towards the Djibouti railway at Harar and the other north-westward to Lugh.