ITALIANS FLEE ON ALL FRONTS

Southland Times, Issue 24354, 7 February 1941, Page 5

ITALIANS FLEE ON ALL FRONTS

Campaign In Africa REVOLT SPREADING IN ABYSSINIA (United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 6, 10 p.m.) LONDON, February 5. Mercilessly lashed by Royal Air Force bombs and bullets, their communications constantly attacked, their planes shot from the skies, and their landing grounds pounded, the Italians on all fronts in Africa today, have desperately speeded up their retreat regardless of loss of equipment and stragglers. General Wavell’s men are pressing on despite lack of sleep, determined that the fleeing armies shall have no chance to rest and re-form. The Royal Air Force is violently carrying on an offensive over, and beyond, all battlefronts, and the land forces have markedly quickened the tempo of the advance everywhere. There is no sign of stiffening in Cyrenaica, far less of counter-attacking. The mass evacuation of Italian garrisons and civil administration from 5000 square miles of Abyssinia is reported, following the British successes. The main groups of Marshal Graziani’s forces are 60 to 70 miles from Benghazi, and since the pace of the retreat at present is 20 to 30 miles daily, it appears that the fate of Barce will become clear in a day or two. Hundreds of Italian settlers are also fleeing to Benghazi. Since the battle of Barentu the Italian withdrawal has become a rout. Remnants of Barentu’s garrison are fleeing to Adiurgi. Mechanized units and motorized infantry are doing their utmost to keep up with them, and the Royal Air Force is heavily bombing columns of troopladen lorries. The Italian guns are maintaining only a most desultory fire. The British near Biacunda are also in contact with Italians who are believed to be the remnants of the Ummhagar garrison.

The British battering ram, which is pounding into the foothills and uplands, is now four miles from Keren. The British main advance has been along a smooth “autostrada,” while the Italian rearguard from Agordat is struggling to escape along the parallel secondary road, and is being constantly harried by patrols, which are mowing them down with machine-guns and taking many prisoners. The Royal Air Force, spotting for our artillery, is also swooping down and machine-gunning the. miserable columns.

Lining the path of our drive to the Red Sea are streams of prisoners, heaps of battered tanks and lorries, droves of mules, piles of guns, rifles and equipment. Like the Libyan forces, Major-General W. Platt’s men are pressing into service all possible captured materials to assist the advance.

ABYSSINIANS RISING The mass evacuation of Italian garrisons and civil administration from 50,000 square miles of Abyssinia has followed the British successes in Eritrea and harrying by patriots. More and more men freed by the completion of harvesting, are taking up arms and the garrisons are faced with the desperate choice of retreat along ambushinfested roads or surrender. The evacuated area comprises the Walkait and Agade districts, bordering the Sudan between the Setit and Atbara rivers. Haile Selassie’s regulars are chasing the Italians. Already a temporary Anglo-Ethiopian civil administration has been established. The Royal Air Force is dropping hundreds of thousands of leaflets telling the Abyssinians throughout the country of the successes of their countrymen and allies. The conflagration is rapidly gaining and spreading to the heart of Abyssinia. Active patrolling continues in south-west Abyssinia. Strong native African patrols cap:ured Belesgugani, a defended Italian post 45 miles inside Somaliland. The Africans are pursuing its garrison. The military correspondent, of The Times says: Bold minor tactics, plus sniping by patriots in East Africa, is probably too much for the nerves of the Italian commanders and. troops. Duke Aosta, commander-in-chief, is a good soldier, but it is most unlikely he can restore the situation because the troops no longer possess the necessary spirit. CO-OPERATION OF R.A.F. “Repeated raids were carried out by bomber aircraft yesterday on. Barce, and lines of communication to Benghazi,” states a Middle East communique. “Between Marau and Barce motor transport was heavily attacked and much damage was caused. Barce railway station was raided and three direct hits were registered on the track. Hangars were hit at Berka and a large fire was started at Berna. Our fighters were also active. One C.A. 133 and one C.R. 42 were shot down. An enemy flying-boat anchored off Tolmetta was destroyed and an enemy, bomber was found crashed at Apollonia. “A South African fighter squadron attacked the landing ground near Azoza where five C.A. 133’s were set on fire. Near Asmara aircraft of the squadron intercepted enemy fighters and shot one down. One S. 81 was machine-gunned on the ground and destroyed. At Terani four 869’s were observed burnt out on the ground and one C.A. 133 and two CR. 42’s, in unserviceable condition due' to air attack, were captured at Bamatu. “In addition our bombers raided a number of military objectives in Eritrea. Motor transports were set on fire on the Metemna-Gondar road and between Asmara and Keren a motor convoy was attacked. The aerodrome at Gura was raided and three direct hits were registered on the hangars, causing much damage. Motor-vehicles and buildings at Eamger were bombed. Aircraft and motor transport were attacked at Makale and three S. 79’s were destroyed on the ground. Several others were damaged. “From all these operations all our aircraft returned safely, except one bomber and one fighter.”