FRESH CONFIDENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 90, 15 March 1941, Page 7

FRESH CONFIDENCE.

RESULT OF OPERATIONS.

(British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.58 a.m.) RUGBY, March 14. A communique issued at Nairobi states that the operations in Abyssinia continue according to plan. The mopping up operations in Italian Somaliland are rapidly ending with the capture or surrender of the last remnants of the enemy. Since the advent of the topce6 and slouch hats of bur Imperial troops, which are now a familiar feature of Italian Somaliland, as they recently were of Kenya, fresh confidence has been instilled into many of the native inhabitants and conditions throughout the occupied territory are rapidly becoming normal. It is pointed out in authoritative quarters in London that the reports from Axis sources that the Germans have now sent three divisions to Libya are part of the Axis war of nerves. The figure is believed to be a gross exaggeration. _ An R.A.F. communique states : Un March 12-13 our bombers attacked Valona aerodrome and Asseno Island off Valona Bay (Albania). Considerable damage was caused to buildings and the aerodrome. The naval base and main quay at Tripoli were heavily raided the same night. Bombs fell along the entire length of the quayside, causing fires and one very large explosion near the lighthouse. The road junction and military buildings at Zliten (near the coast east of Tripoli) were also bombed. There has been considerable air activity in and around Keren (Eritrea). Motor transports, railway and road bridges, and enemy troop and gun positions have been bombed and ma-chine-gunned. In Abyssinia aircraft of the South. African Air Force have continued to support our advancing troops. From all operations all our planes have returned.