BARENTU CAPTURED

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1941, Page 5

BARENTU CAPTURED

IN ERITREA CAMPAIGN Abyssinia Invaded from Kenya [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, February 3. A communique issued by the British headquarters at Cairo on Monday afternoon stated:— “As the result of our operations in Eritrea, the enemy evacuated the town of Barentu, which we occupied on Sunday. Meanwhile in the northern sector, the British mechanised troops are pressing back the Italian forces which are withdrawing towards Keren. Keren is 50 miles from the Red Sea port of Massawa. Keren is believed to be less well defended than Agordat. There was heavf lightingbefore the British and Indian troops forced their way into Agordat on Saturday. There is a strong Italian force retreating into the mountains, which offer better scope for defence. A correspondent with the Imperial forces pays a high tribute to the Indian troops, who displayed great gallantry in bayonet charges and to the Indian sappers for their courage in removing land mines. One party of Indian sappers worked all night removing mines. Daybreak revealed a party of Italian sappers laying more mines only 300 yards away. The Indians opened fire and the Italian sappers fled. While attaching importance to the capture of Agordat, the “de facto” railhead from the port of Massawa, military circles here are disinclined to regard the new British thrust in this part of Eritrea as an immediate threat to Massawa. The two towns, it is pointed out are 180 miles apart, and the intervening terrain is extremely difficult. A study of the map supports the view that the Italians might offer stiffer resistance. It is, however, thought probable that, in | addition to prisoners, guns and mechanised transport officially stated to have been captured, a quantity of stores was left behind by the Italians withdrawing from Agordat. The importance of the capture of I Baicundi, 50 miles south of Barentu j and just inside the Eritrean border, is due to the protection it affords the Bright right flank, since it has little communication northwards to Barentu. The Italians are also thought to be in an unhappy position in the Wai Kait district in Abyssinia proper, where they already have had trouble with Abyssinian patriots. In support of the army offensive on I Barentu, low diving attacks were made by the Royal Air Force, on me fort and buildings, which were hit by a number of bombs. Others xeil among a concentration of motor transport, and at least 50 vehicles were rendered unserviceable. West, of Asmara, another concentration of motor transport vehicles was attacked, and direct hits were made on the road. At Agordat, fighters shot down an S 79 in flames. From all these operations all aircraft returned safely.

Italians Retreat

FROM BARENTU. (Received February 4, 11.30 p.m.). CAIRO, February 4. The occupation of Barentu, following the fall of Agordat, means that the first Italian line of organised resistance in Eritrea is now completely broken. Barentu was surrounded on three sides, but most of the Italians there have escaped by a "bolthole,” under th e cover of darkness. They are now in full retreat south-eastward along a narrow, winding muie "’track, which joins the main Addis Ababa-Asmara road, some forty miles southward of Asmara.

ABYSSINIA AND KENYA. RUGBY, February 3. A Cairo headquarters communique on Monday, stated:— “Our pursuit of the enemy forces retreating towards Gondar in Abyssinia continues, as a result of which the Italians have been compelled to abandon or destroy quantities of materials and stores of all kinds. South African forces occupied two Italian frontier posts ten miles inside --e enemy border on the Duka'na front in Italian Somaliland. Vigorous activity by our patrols continues, extending and deepening our penetration across the Italian frontier.” A Nairobi communique states: South African forces have occupied El Gumu and Gorai, two posts ten miles inside the Abyssinian border. The Italians lost two officers and 43 Banda killed, and three officers and 50 Banda prisoners. Machine-guns, rifles and ammunition were also captured. Our casualties were very slight. After this success the capture of Hobok, a post seven miles north of the border, and west of Gorai, was reported. Active patrolling continues in other sectors.” Retreating from the Kenya frontier an Italian column is reported to have been smashed up by air attack, after being harassed across the country by Abyssinians. South African troops have driven Italians from all parts of Kenya and entered Abyssinia for the first time, thus reaching country that has been their goal for six months. They are advancing east of Lake Rudolf. They are operating in country formerly volcanic and now so difficult that the Italians considered it safe from attack They were taken by surprise by the South Africans, who are now nearer to Addis Ababa than to their own base at Nairobi. A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: In East Africa, on Saturday, aircraft of the South I African Air Force bombed enemy em-, placements. In considering the East African campaign as a whole, it should not be overlooked that successive British advances entail lengthening the lines of communication, which are more than ever dependent on mechanical transport. MARSHAL GRAZIANI. A SHORT REST. i NICE, February 3. Th e Pre newspaper “Le Ciaireur” reports that Marshal Graziani is suffering from paludism and dysentery. H? has been ordered a short lest.