ITALIAN RETREAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20501, 11 March 1941, Page 11

ITALIAN RETREAT

EASTERN AFRICA PATRIOTS’ PURSUIT ADVANCE BY BRITISH NEW PORT OCCUPIED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 3 p.m. RUGBY, Mar. 9. A Cairo headquarters’ communique states: “In Libya and Eritrea there is nothing of importance to report today- The vigorous pursuit by the Patriot forces in Abyssinia of the retreating Burye garrison is continuing. “British troops in Italian Somaliland occupied Gabre Darra, on the main road from Mogadiscio to Harar. “On other fronts the extension of the British areas of occupation is proceeding, with many additions to the number of prisoners already taken.’ A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: “In Libya, during the night of March 7-8, Royal Air Force bombers attacked the harbour of Tripoli. Bombs were observed bursting on the railway line. Enemy aerodromes in Tripolitania were also bombed. Royal Air Force bombers inflicted considerable damage on the Keren-Asmara road in Italian East Africa, and attacked enemy troop positions in the Keren areas. South African fighter planes machine-gunned and burned out two oil dumps and a lorry south of Asmara. From all operations in the Middle East our planes returned safely.” The Lisbon correspondent of The Times reports that it is unlikely that German troops in Africa can be greatly reinforced. He states that the troops already landed were part of a wider strategy which might Be developed if the Italians had not collapsed. They are at present engaged in the negative role of keeping the British forces from Free French zones.