CAPTURE OF ABYSSINIA

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1941, Page 5

CAPTURE OF ABYSSINIA

Expected Next Month [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received March 17, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. The British United Press Cairo correspondent says:- “British forces .are now within easy gun range of Jtgjiga. The final phase of the Ethiopian offensive has begun. Capitulation of the Italians is foreseen early m April.” Abyssinian Advance AT SEVERAL POINTS [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, March 16. British forces operating in Abyssinia from Italian Somaliland continue to advance in all sectors. British troops in Abyssinia have occupied Asosa and are now advancing along the Mendi road. Continuing their successful advance from Burye, during which they continue to inflict serious casualties on the retreating enemy, Abyssinian patriot forces have now reached the neighbourhood of Debra Markos. Debra Markos is an important centre onlv 120 mile s north-west of Addis Ababa. Further advances have also been made on the road southeast of Addis Ababa. A Nairobi communique states: Imperial troops have penetrated far on the road to Jijiga apd along the Strada from Mogadishu to Addis Ababa, via Neghelli. Operations are continuing. The South African Aii Force yesterday morning shot down eight Italian aircraft. In addition, three Italian bombers were shot down, and three bombers and two reconnaissance machines burnt on the ground.

ERITREAN OPERATIONS RUGBY, March 16. A communique issued at headquarters in Cairo states: “In Libya and Eritrea there is nothing to report. In Eritrea, machine-gun and bombing attacks have been made on Keren and on the road between Keren and Asmara. A Middle East R.A.F. communique states: There was considerable. a'ir activity in the Keren region of Eritrea yesterday, and on the previous night. Enemy troops and gun positions were bombed and machine-gun-ned. while motor transport on the Keren-Asmara road was so harassed by air attack that it was compelled to halt. A train of 30 to 40 trucks was machine-gunned and set on fire. It was still burning fiercely two and a half hours afterwards, with frequent explosions. • From all these operations, all of our planes returned safely.