HOBOK’S CAPTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 13 February 1941, Page 5

HOBOK’S CAPTURE

SOUTH AFRICAN TROOPS’ PART ABYSSINIAN BORDER DIFFICULT COUNTRY (British Official Wireless) (Received 13th Feb., 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, 12th February. South African troops played a prominent part in the capture of Hobok, on the south Abyssinian border, according to details reaching London. With the British forces the South Africans left Dukana and camped on the border. They pushed on through dense bush over a distance of 18 miles towards their objective.

A brigadier referring to this advance said: “I do not think the history of motorised forces can show a similar feat considering the type of bush we encountered. The fight for El Mumu in flat, featureless bush country devoid of wells was short and sharp. El Mumu was occupied after less than two hours’ fighting on the same day as Gerai. About fifteen of the enemy were killed and eleven taken prisoner. “On the following day forces advanced towards Hobok, seventeen miles to the northwest. Hobok, fortified and well-patrolled, was held by a colonel with a thousand men but it was reported that with the fall of El Mumu the colonel withdrew, leaving a junior officer to defend the position. Fighting began at 4,000 yards from the main defences where a road block was covered by machine-gun posts. As they approached the fort the attacking forces were met by very heavy fire. Their machine-guns and artillery went into action. Armoured cars stopped at the fort, followed by the infantry. The South Africans swarmed into the fort and captured material which although not yet officially checked is said to include machine-guns, rifles, grenades and quantities of ammunition. The main feature of the fort, a two storied blockhouse, was demolished by a direct hit from an anti-tank gun at the range of 1,400 yards. The British and South African losses are extremely small.”