BRITISH GAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20527, 10 April 1941, Page 7

BRITISH GAIN

MASSAWA FALLS ERITREAN POST PURSUIT OF ITALIANS NORTHERN ABYSSINIA GERMAN LIBYAN PUSH I Klee. Tim. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11.50 a.m. RUGBY. April 9. A communique issued by British Headquarters, Cairo, states: “In Libya yesterday, our rearguard, whose role was to delay the enemy advance while our main concentration was being completed, were heavily engaged till day by numerically superior forces.

“Massawa, the Red Sea port in Eritrea, capitulated yesterday afternoon and is now being occupied by our troops.

“Meanwhile, our mobile columns are continuing their advance south and south-west along the Dessie and Gonriar roads Our pursuit of the retreating Italian forces in Abyssinia is being maintained.”

A communique issued in Nairobi states: —"Indian troops took part in the capture of Addis Ababa. Important stocks of arms and materials of all kinds were captured. A large number of prisoners include two complete Blackshirt battalions, over GO pilots, and 1000 air force ground personnel.”

Camps and Aerodromes

A communique issued by Royal Air Force Headquarters in the Middle Ea»l says: “In Abyssinia, camps and other military objectives in the Gondar area were bombed yesterday and the previous day by the Royal Air Force and the Free French squadron.

“An attack on an enemy aerodrome at Colbolcia resulted in direct hits on the aerodrome buildings, one of which caught fire.

“South African aircraft carried out a successful attack on motor transport in the Asellc area.

“In Cyrenaica, enemy landing grounds were bombed and enemy motor transport and troop concentrations attacked continuously. From all operations our aircraft returned safely.”

The Lisbon correspondent of the Daily Express says that Herr Hitler’s forces in North Africa are under the command of a personal friend, General Romnel, aged 49, who was head oi Herr Hitler's headquarters' stall' during the invasions of Czechoslovakia and Poland.

He commanded a Panzer division on the Meuse break-through last May. He is the son of a workman who rose from the ranks and won a commission in the lost war. He is now the Nazi Party's leading general.

It is believed that lie has between three and four Panzer divisions in Cyrenaica.