SPEEDY ADVANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 28 February 1941, Page 6

SPEEDY ADVANCE

EAST AFRICAN ARMY SOMALILAND GAINS TOO SWIFT FOR ROME FULL EXTENT UNKNOWN (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 27. Details of the brilliant British advance in Italian Somaliland which culminated in the capture of Mogadiscio is given in an unofficial account from Nairobi which says that during the night, of February 25 —26 East African troops entered the town without opposition. “Owing to darkness, and the defeat of the enemy on the line of the Juba River, the speed of the British advance and the hurried evacuation by the Italians, the town suffered little damage. It has been impossible hitherto tc assess tho number of prisoners and material captured and many Europeans and Askaris arc still surrendering. The achievement was made possible by the co-operation of all three services and tne vigorous action of all forces employed. The greatness oi the achievement may be appreciated when it is realised that during the period from February 12 to February 25, starting from advance bases already ahead of the line of communication 220 miles long, fighting formations advanced in the face of opposition over single-track roads a distance of 570 miles. In addition the major water obstacle of the Juba was crossed —a line which the Italians apparently thought impregnable—in face of opposition. The advance of the East African army which resulted in the capture c» Mogadiscio seems to have been too rapid for the compilers of the Italian High Command communiques. Today’s communique states: “In Italian Somaliland our troops, after offering fierce resistance for over a month, withdrew in the direction of Mogadiscio.”