ADVANCE IN ERITREA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLX, Issue 14654, 3 February 1941, Page 5

ADVANCE IN ERITREA

BRITISH PRESSURE CONTINUES DEFENCE OF AGORDAT AND BARENTU HEAVY RAIN ON TRIPOLI. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph- - Copyright LONDON February 1. A communique issued today by the British General Headquarters in Cairo states: “In Libya contact with the enemy west of Derna is being maintained. In Eritrea pressure on the Italian forces holding, the areas of Agordat and Barentu is being intensified. On other fronts there is no change in the situation ” It is authoritatively stated in Cairo that British motorised units have severed the 15-mile road jinking Agordat and Barentu, in Eritrea. The t vi» divisions that retreated from Jvassala are reported to have split up one defending Agordat and the other Barentu. where the Italian ysistance is the greatest so far in Eritrea. Neither town has fixed defences.

(A Reuter correspondent reports that the British in an action in the Agordat sector destroyed 11 enemy tanks and 15 guns (states a Liavontry bulletin). The Italian positions at Barentu are being shelled. The 'enemy unsuccessfully counter-attacked.) Heavy patrol encounters are occurring in Kenya along the frontier, specially at Kisimayu and the frontier town of Moyale where the enemy still hold the British part of the town.

The Tobruk correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that British naval units are speeding up the clearing of harbour wreckage in the harbour of at least 17 Itailian vessels to facilitate the use of the port as a new naval base. A Bombay message states that four Italian generals and 1200 officers are among a batch of a further 3000 Italian prisoners who arrived today. A Royal Air Force headquarters communique states: “During last night R.A.F. bombers carried out heavy raids on the docks at Tripoli (west Libyan capital) and several tons of bombs were dropped among ships and seaplanes in the harbour. “An 8000-ton merchant vessel was hit and set on fire, a 4000ton vessel was also hit and another of SOOO tons was damaged. Bombs which burst among the seaplanes in the harbour destroyed one by fire and damaged others. “Other bombs straddled the southern mole and seaplane nangars, causng explosidns which were followed by clouds of black smoke. Several fires were started on the Customs jetty and railway. The raid was carried out in "the face of intense A.A. fire. “The enemy aerodrome at (east Libya) was again heavily raided yesterday by bombers and fighters. Hundreds of high-ex-piosive and incendiary bombs were dropped. Bombs were observed bursting among the hangars. Other buildings and tents, and the barracks received a direct hit. Two aircraft on the ground were set on fire. Our fighters, which machine-gunned the aerodrome, also attacked concentrations cf motor transport vehicles there One Cr. 42 was attacked by o U r fighters over Barce ana chased anp shot down in flames near Benghazi. “An Italian East Africa fighter aircraft madilne-gunned four S.7B’s on the ground at Teranni and destroyed three. Transport yards at Assab were bombed. “From all the operations all our aircraft returned.’* HEAVY ITALIAN LOSSES. KHARTOUM. February 2. The Italians sustained heavy losses in the Agordat and Barentu battle. The British continue their pressure on Agordat and have destroyed six medium and five light tanks and fifteen guns. British guns are at present shelling the town of Barentu.