ADVANCE IN LIBYA CONTINUED

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 7

ADVANCE IN LIBYA CONTINUED

Italians Withdrawing En Masse NEW BLOWS ON ENEMY IN ERITREA (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 5, 10 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. The Army of the Nile has captured Cyrene and General Wavell’s forward troops are pushing on beyond the town, which was Marshal Graziani’s headquarters for the conquest of Egypt. Infantry and machine gunners are assumed to have taken El Gubba, 30 miles west from Dorna, and the last fortified town on the coastal route to Benghazi. El Gubba straddles the 50 miles of main road from Derna to Cyrene. The latter is 1800 feet above sea level and 12 miles south-south-west of Anollonia, which is presumably cut off. Apollonia is an important air base. The Italians are apparently withdrawing en masse along the parallel road from Cyrene to Barce. After fighting their way from Derna under Italian artillery fire the British forces climbed the hillsides inland to the enemy’s level and resumed the forward drive. The troops marched on foot with artillery and stores in the rear. Hardly a shot was fired. The Italians preferred to rely on landmines, booby traps and on dynamiting roads and blowing up bridges. The British in Eritrea are daily inflicting new blows on the Italians. Troops from Agordat are approaching the gates of Keren, one of the important rail centres of Eritrea. The Royal Air Force heavily pounded the station which tops a cliff-like escarpment on the 6000 foot uplands. The Italians, unless they are completely demoralized, arc likely to attempt a big stand at this heaven-sent defence position. Sudanese troops and armoured units are the spearhead of the British drive, while heavier forces are mopping up isolated centres of opposition. The road from Agordat is thick with guns, armoured vehicles, and lorryloads of troops, protected by British fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns. The forces from Barentu are advancing steadily. One enemy post manned by natives stoutly held out until surrounded, but the main body of Italians is retreating. Scores of Abyssinian soldiers arc deserting to the British. The British troops are gathering, as they press on, great batches of prisoners and also masses of guns, lorries and ammunition, which the Italians have jettisoned. British guns are harrassing the tired Italian troops with tremendous barrages. Already the Italian rearguard is halved, and has lost 70 per cent, of its material. The captors of Barentu took prisoner 1500 men and killed 500. A large quantity of guns, ah nunition and stores was captured. The British forces pushing on to Gondar are now over 30 miles from the Sudanese frontier despite the determined obstructive tactics of the Italians.