BRITISH DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23880, 3 February 1941, Page 7

BRITISH DRIVE

ASSAULT PENDING CUTTING OF ROAD DEFENCE IN LIBYA EAYINE NEAR DERNA By Telestraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 2, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 2 It was authoritatively stated in Cairo yesterday that British motorised forces had severed the 15-mile road linking Agordat and Barentu, in Eritrea. Heavy enemy counterattacks were smashed by the British forces. The British are now awaiting reinforcements before making a final assault, and British guns are shelling the Italian positions at Barentu. British forces have destroyed 11 lenrmy tanks and 15 guns in front of [Agordat. states a Renter message from ■Khartoum. Two Italian Divisions The two Italian divisions retreating from Kassala are reported to have split -up, one defending Agordat and the 'ether Barentu, where Italian resistance 'is the greatest, so l" ar in Eritrea. Neither town has fixed defences. Heavy patrol encounters are occurring all along the Kenya frontier, as Kisimayu and M ovale. British troops are close to Moyale. yhere the Italians are making a stand •'and are still in possession of the British part of the town. Enemy Stand In Libya On the Libyan front, Italians numbering about 6000 are taking advantage of a ravine Sooit. deep, west of Derna, to try to halt the British coastal drive. The Italians lined the western rim of the ravine, which runs to the sea from 17 miles inland, and Several skirmishes occurred between infantry patrois. Artillery was active on both sides. The British attillery is greatly superior to the Italian, which is also almost cut off from supplies from the rear. The Italians' main objective appears to be to gain time for the organisation of defences more to the rear. Clearing Tobruk Harbour The British advance continues along the coast to Apollonia. 40 miles away. A correspondent at Tobruk reports that British naval parties are speedingup the clearing of the harbour of the wreckage of at least 17 Italian vessels to facilitate the use of the port as a new naval base. It is estimated that Italy has over 200.000 troops in East Africa, of which fewer than 50 000 are Europeans. VAGUE ITALIAN CLAIMS "OUR VALOROUS TROOPS" ALLEGED RAID ON SUEZ (Received February 2, 5.35 p.m.) HOME, Feb. 1 An Italian communique says: "The Tint tie on the northern front and in East Africa continues. In fierce fighting, our valorous national and colonial troops inflicted notable losses on the enemy. The Italian air force is co-operating indefatigably. Italian torpedo-boats in the Aegean Sea attacked an enemy ■convoy and sank a 10,000-ton vessel." An earlier Italian communique stated: ''With the view to avoiding encirclement at Derna, the High Command ordered the evacuation of the town The troops immediately took up 'positions to the west and south, repelling an attack by Australian motorized units. During various combats on the northern front and in East Africa Italian forces repelled enemy attacks and inflicted notable losses. "The German Air Corps carried out a very effective bombardment of Suez and Ismailia." 3000 ITALIANS FOR INDIA .FOUR GENERALS INCLUDED (Received February 2, 5.35 p.m.) BOMBAY, Feb. 1 Four Italian generals and 1200 other officers are among a batch comprising a further 3000 Italian prisoners who arrived to-day for internment in India. SURPRISE FOR GCERING 'EFFORT TO SMASH MALTA MEW BRITISH FLEET FIGHTER (Received February 2, 7.55 p.m.) NEW YORK. Feb. 1 An anonymous Royal Air Force "'ace," in an article published for the -North .American Newspaper Alliance, declares Goering is personally directing s terrific effort to smash Malta or force it to surrender. Apparently he is impatient at the happenings in the Mediterranean and the fact that Italian aeroplanes have virtually been driven from the skies. "Goering," said the writer, "is banking on the fact that the Stuka dive-bombers are unmatched in speed and armament by anything publicly known as suitable for flight from air- 1 craft-carriers. However, Goering is in 1 for a nasty surprise. The British have < developed the Fairey Fulmar, with the | terrific speed of a land-fighter, but various secret devices which enable it t to land slowly on a flying deck. It car- 1 xies a most formidable armament." • . - ( AMERICAN ENVOY ; IHURRIEO visit to turkey (Received February 2, 5.35 p.m.) ISTANBUL, Feb. 1 | President Roosevelt's special emissary, Colonel W. J. Donovan, arrived to-day from Salonika. He is reported to be hearing a message from Mr. ißoosevelt to the Turkish President, General Jnohu. ' Colonel Donovan went on to Ankara t flfter a hurried conference with officers of the British. Middle East Command, r