BRILLIANT FEAT AT AGORDAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 February 1941, Page 5

BRILLIANT FEAT AT AGORDAT

DIFFICULT VICTORY STORMING OF MANY HILLS LONDON, 4th February The magnitude of the British victory at Agordat deserves emphasis Agordat has been the centre of Italian civilisation in East Eritrea and has been a big military and air base since the invasion of Abyssinia. Its defenders included the crack Second Italian Colonial Brigade, with light and medium artillery, under the command of Colonel Lorenzini, who is regarded as among Italy’s most brilliant soldiers. The British commander tried to push armoured units to the east to cut oft Agordat from Asmara but was forced to admit that the ground was too difficult. A Scottish battalion rein forced by Indians was therefore sent to take Cochem Hill, overlooking Agor dat from the east. They endured a

48-hours’ inferno of fire, fighting four and a half Italian battalions.

The constant heavy artillery fire made it most difficult to supply them, and the position looked bad till British armoured cars supported by a famous British regiment made a successful attack against the prepared defences running out from Cochem Hill. Later an Indian regiment, with orders to take and hold their objectives to the last man, stormed four smaller hills east of Agordat. Simultaneously the Royal Air Force spotted a strong Italian column coming in from the east, and British armoured units and infantry attacked and knocked out in a few minutes 11 tanks, which was half the enemy’s force.

The Italians then retired from the impregnable height of Laquetat to south from Agordat A swift attempt was made to cut off the retreat of the enemy from Agordat itself, but they were too quick and slipped out in the darkneess over the secondary road to Asmara.

The British entered the town without resistance. The Italians suffered very heavy losses, those killed and taken prisoner exceeding 2200. When a British officer entered Agordat he found the telephone exchange still intact, find the Italian operator at Barentu was trying to get Agordat on the line and was unpleasantly surprised, when he was answered in English. R.A.F. ACTIVITIES (Received 6th February, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, sth February. The R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “Repeated raids were carried out by bomber aircraft yesterday on Barce, and lines of communication to Benghazi. Between Marsu and Barce motor transport were heavily attacked. Much damage was caused when Barce railway station was raided. Three direct hits were registered on the track. Hangars were hit at Berka and a large fire started at Berna. Our fighters were also active. One CAI 33 and one CR42 were shot down. “An enemy flying-boat anchored off Tolmetta was destroyed and an enemy bomber was found crashed at Appolonia.

A South African fighter squadron attacked the landing ground near Azoza where five CAl33’s were set on fire.

“Near Asmara aircraft of the squadron intercepted enemy fighters and shot one down. One SBl was machinegunned on the ground and destroyed. “At Tarani four S69’s were observed burnt out on the ground, while on CA 133 and two CR 42’s in an unserviceable condition due to air attack were captured at Barnatu. In addition our bombers raided a number of military objectives in Eritrea. Motor transports were set on fire on the MetemmaGondar road and between Asmara and Kerene a motor convoy was attacked. An aerodrome at Oura was raided and three direct hits were registered on hangars, causing much damage to motor vehicles and buildings. Aircraft and motor transport were attacked at Maka’e and three S 79’s were destroyed on the ground. Several others were damaged. Enemy fighters intercepted our bombers but the raid was successfully completed without damage to our aircraft. “In Southern Abyssinia the South African Air Force continued to support the army. One fighter pilot alone shot down, three CA 133’s near Dith. “Enemy aircraft raided Malta yesterday but were intercepted by our fighters. At least three JU 88’s were shot down and others severely damaged. Some slight damage was caused to buildings. “From all operations all our aircraft returned safely except one bomber and one fighter." A German communique says: “Bombers attacked Malta and caused fire;* and explosions.”