CLOSING ROUND KEREN

Southland Times, Issue 24355, 8 February 1941, Page 7

CLOSING ROUND KEREN

ITALIAN POSITION DESPERATE {United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 7, 11 p-m.) LONDON, February 6. Without waiting to collect booty from their previous string of victories the British are closing in i round Keren, which, strategically, is the most important town in Eritrea, and the capture of which will give the British control of threequarters of Eritrea and bring the fall of Asmara within sight. The special correspondent of The Times near Keren, says only a few of what was once a fine body of men, and ; are now a ragged, miserable rabble, are I capable of putting up a fight. They are . only too glad to surrender to obtain • food, water and rest. The total num- j ber of prisoners is over 1500. It is j certain that little over a brigade will i ever reach the Italian lines. They will j be without equipment, guns, ammuni- ; cion, food and water. One of our most ■ valuable captures is 150 vehicles, most i of which are serviceable. j The Daily Mail’s Agordat correspond- | ent states that the Italian position in Eritrea is so desperate that three battalions of Savoy Grenadiers have been rushed from Addis Ababa to Keren in an effort to stop the British advance. ITALIANS HARRIED South-eastwards the garrison, which abandoned Barentu, estimated at three brigades and a-half, appears lost and dispersed round the road on which it was retreating to Adigrat. Sudanese troops, who, so far, have been in the forefront of every action of this campaign, are pursuing, harrying and capturing sections of this isolated army. Fear of the Abyssinians, who are now in full liaison with the British in the Walkait area, is responsible for a large number of Italians surrendering. Reports from Abyssinia indicate the growing might of the patriot forces. Italian prestige has fallen so low that Dedjasmatch Woldeyeis, who was formerly a pro-fascist chief and was sent by the Fascists to pacify the Maji area, has gone over to the patriots. Woldeyeis is already in action against the enemy, of whom his satellites killed 10 and wounded 13.