EAST AFRICAN WAR

Grey River Argus, 11 March 1941, Page 5

EAST AFRICAN WAR

■ —.~«q> — NEAR 200,000 SQ. MILES Occupied by British [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received March 10, 9.45 P-™-' LONDON, March 9. British troops occupy almost twothirds of Kalian East Africa s surface. In two months t .y‘ captured one hundred thousand square miles in Italian .. Soma nnA non 29 000 square miles in Eritrea, 090,000 sauare miles southwards and w wards of Lake Tsana, 10.000 square miles in Kurmuk, and 10,000 square miles -on the North Kenya front. This does not include large gams resulting from the record-breaking drive of East African armoured forces towards Gabredarre on t e main road from Mogadishu to Harar. These armoured forces probably are nearer Harar than has hitherto been indicated, driving an important wedge between British Somaliland and the rest of East Africa. The armoured forces have advanced no fewer than a‘ thousand miles m six weeks and now are approaching the area of Marshal Graziani’s drive to Ogaden in 1936. During the short rains which normally are due in April the terrain will be more difficult, as the Abyssinian highlands are approached, but a magnificent road will be of much assistance. RUGBY, March 9. A Cairo headquarters communique states: “In Libya and Eritrea, there is nothing of importance to report. “The vigorous pursuit by the patriot forces in Abyssinia of the retreating Burye garrison is continuing. “The British troops in Italian Somaliland have occupied Gabre Darra, on the main road from Mogadishu to Harar “On other fronts, the extension of the British areas of occupation is proceeding.; with many additions to the number of prisoners already f aken “In Libya, during the night of March 7-8, R.A.F bombers attacked the harbour at Tripoli. Bombs were observed bursting on the railwax line. Enemy aerodromes in Tripolitania were also bombed. “R.A.F. bombers inflicted considerable damage on the Keren-Asmara road, in Italian East Africa, and attacked enemy troop positions in the Keren area. “South African fighter planes machine-gunned and burnt out two oib dumps and a lorry, south of Asmara. “From all of these operations our planes returned safely.”

Keren Campaign ENEMY STUBBORN. (Received March 10, 7-10 p.m.). LONDON, March 9. The Italian forces at Keren are still stubbornly resisting the British. They number at least 40,000. _ they include some of the best Eritrean regiments, with a stiffening of the Savoy Grenadiers. , Naval Aid IN SOMALI CAMPAIGN LONDON, March 9. An Admiralty communique states. ‘lt is now possible to give some details of the naval support afforded ou r Army in Italian Somaliland during the advance in the coastal area. All the important Italian positions along the coast were bombarded by our naval units, these bombardments being carefully timed to co-ordinate with the military advance. Military objectives at Kismayu, Brava and Mogadisho Were bombarded by our naval forces and evidence secured by the subsequent occupation of these areas testifies to the effectiveness of these bombardments. “In particular, it is now known that bombardments of Italian positions in the Brava area carried out on the morning of February 22 were conspicuously successful. Hits were scored on military buildings and positions and enemy motor transport sheltering under some trees was heavily shelled. It is now known that this, bombardment caused great ciarnage. | and a large number of military causalties and was an important factor leading to the enemy’s evacuation of strong defensive positions in this area. No damage or casualties were sustained by our forces in any of these bombardments. “One important naval result of the successful military operations in Italian Somaliland is that the capture of Kismayu and Mogadisho has deprived the enemy of two important bases which were most convenient for the supply ships. That Mogadisho was used as a base by raiders for their supply ships is shown by the discovery and release by our Army of a considerable number of merchant seamen who were landed and interned in the Mogadisho area after their ships had been sunk by enemy raiders.”

WEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN RUGBY, March 9. The spirit of the Gold Coast troops in the fighting in Somaliland, of men who at the beginning of the wa r had never seen a train or a motor-car, but were prepared to face anything, was described by one of their officers in a cablegram from Nairobi, as follows: “We put one of them through the bush with an .anti-tank gun. About dawn, an Italian armoured car came out of the bush only 100 yards away. Although this monster came crashing directly towards his hide-out. the African did not open lire until the enemy was within 30 yards. He then shot the driver dead. The driverless car careered towards him and he had to roll over in order to get out of its path. It actually ran over part of the gun, and crashed against a tree, before its crew surrendered.” French Territory TO BE DEFENDED. AGAINST ANY AGGRESSOR. (Received March 10, 9.45 p.m.) . , VICHY, March 10. Admiral Dar'an r"id General Wevgand have specifically examined the problem of the defence of the French

African Empire, states a Government communique. They confirmed that this defence, while conforming to Marsha] Petain’s’ engagements, and also keeping within the framework of the * Armistice Convention, would be energetically carried out by the French forces alone against any aggressor.