BRITISH FORCES IN ERITREA

Southland Times, Issue 24339, 21 January 1941, Page 5

BRITISH FORCES IN ERITREA

Mobile Columns Advance

ITALIANS MAY RESIST IN HILLS

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received January 20, 9.30 p.m.) CAIRO, January 20.

British mobile forces have advanced some miles into Eritrea. The Italians are believed to be planning resistance in the hills which end the frontier plain. The Italians abandoned Kassala presumably in view of increasing native resistance in Eritrea and Abyssinia, which caused frequent losses of irreplaceable men and material from the supply convoys necessary to maintain the Kassala garrison. The capture of Kassala is regarded as extremely satisfactory, especially as it has removed a source of trouble to railway transport.

It is now revealed that at one period messages from the British military mission in Abyssinia ceased and it was thought the members had been captured. A major in Khartoum sent a message into Abyssinia that he was coming by plane and requesting that a landing ground be prepared. He travelled in an old plane which qfruld land in a small place and met with many adventures. The pilot lost his way and they were preparing for a crash landing when they noticed a landing ground. There, in the midst of cheering Abyssinians, were the colonel in charge of the mission and a captain. The major later went to the source of the Blue Nile and addressed many Abyssinian chiefs, promising them British support in their struggle.

Ships of the Royal Navy have joined the Royal Air Force and the Army in the attack on Tobruk. Army engineers have repaired the lines of communication which were damaged while they were in Italian hands. There is no sign of Italian activity west of Tobruk.