EAST AFRICA

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1941, Page 5

EAST AFRICA

KEREN BATTLE British Progress in Eritrea [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, February 10. An advance by British troop s in the coastal area of Northern Eritrea, which has not hitherto been mentioned as a theatre of operations, was announced in to-day’s Cairo communique, which reports the occupation of the small market town of Karora, which stands on the Sudan-Eritrea frontier, som e 40 miles from the Red Sea, and of Mersa Tachai, a small village on the Red Sea, with an anchorage, some 13 miles down the coast from the Sudan frontier. The communique states:. “Advancing from the north, our troops in Eritrea occupied Mersa Tachai and Karora. Meanwhile, pressure on the enemy positions about Keren was continued. In Aybssinia, South African troops advanced into southern Abyssinia, in the Hobok area, to a distance of 50 miles inside Italian territory, capturing quantities of war materials. (Hobok lies to the east of Lake Steffani). In Italian Somaliand, intensive patrol activity continues.”

The occupation of Karora and Mersataclai presents the Italians m Eritrea with a new threat. Mersataclai is a village forty miles down the coast from the border, about 15 '■ miles northward of Massawa, The development of this northern movement, in conjunction with the British drive from the east, threatens lo envelop the Italians based on Kere n and Asmara.

A Middle East communique of the R.A.F. says:—“Enemy motor transport, troops, gun emplacements, and other military objectives, in and around Keren, were repeatedly attacked throughout February 7/8. At Karora, which is on the EritreaSudan border, near the coast, an enemy concentration was nomh-ri Further south at Alomata, in Abyssinia, British aircraft attacked a landing ground, and destroyed eight CA 133’s. South of Lake Taana, British aircraft, attacked a camp near Danghila, causing considerable damage. Landing grounds near Dessie weye also raided, bombs falling among hangars and buildings. From all the operations, only one. of onr aircraft is missing. Eleven prisoners hav e been captured from the Capronis shot down near Dif on February 3. It is now confirmed that one CR 32 was also destroyed in the same engagement. In Italian East Africa, continued support was given to the army offensive. Keren was raided repeatedly, and much damage was caused to stores and motor transport. At Asmara, South African fighters encounterd a number of CR 42’s. One enemy machine was shot down, and several others were badly damaged. Meanwhile. R.A.F. bombers raided the town. When enemy aircraft attacked the occunied aerodromes at Agordat, one UR 42 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Further south, African bonmers have been active at Badana, and the fort at Todenyng wa s bofhbed with effect. From all the extensive operations under review, four of our aircraft failed to return, but one pilot is safe. The "Daily Mail’s” Kassala eoircspondent says: A British officer has just returned, after assuming control of five thousand square miles of territory ' forming the Abyssinian province of Walkait Tograde, which the Italians recently abandoned. He was greeted at. the town of Adiremoz, by ten-vear-old Abyssmians, carrying Italian rifles and bandoliers, which the Italian- handed to the chiefs who were regarded as loyal. The Italians did not. know that these chiefs had corresponded with _ tne Emperor for weeks, and the Italian’s own weapons were turned against them before the garrison left , town. Two Black Shirts were kil’ed in th e street, and 55 other s were Jelled along the route of retreat. Every Abyssinian male, from the ago of ten upwards, is armed with abandoned weapons. All lhe notates whom the British officer met, freely recognise th e Emperor's authority. ITALIAN DENIAL. OF BOMBING AMERICANS. (Received February 11, 10.0 p.m.). WASHINGTON, February 10. Italy, replying to a recent protest, denies that her planes bombed an American missionary group at Kurmuk, Sudan, killing two.