KEREN THREATENED FROM THE REAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 43, 20 February 1941, Page 5

KEREN THREATENED FROM THE REAR

BRITISH RED SEA FORCE SEVERAL POSTS TAKEN (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Rceived Feb. 19, 9 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 18. A British Red Sea column, 40 miles north-east ’of Keren (Eritrea), is threatening it from the rear. The column covered 100 miles in five days, alter two stiff engagements, and along appallingly rough tracks. Sudanese troops, the spearhead of the advance, took both Karova and Mersataclai from the rear Their officers walked into Karora while ’t was still >n Italian hands. They explot ed the outer defences and found them unhc'.’f. They then went to the centre. of the town, opened the doo’.’ of a house, and found themselves in an Italian officers’ mess which was lull of officers. Because of their object to get back safely with information, they hastily retreated before the Italians had sufficiently recovered to draw revolvers.

After the capture of Karora one wing of the British advanced along the road to Keren through Nacfa, capturing El Chena en route. The other wing pressed inland from Mersataclai and is now at. the gates of Kubkub, a strong Italian post 40 miles from Keren. On the African battlefront there is no spectacular news to report. Consolidation of successes already gained by British forces goes on ..i Libya, Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, and Abyssinia.

To-day’s Cairo communique reveals how the people of Abyssinia are driving the Italians from their strongholds in the very heart of the country. It says that as a result of patriot activities the Italians have evacuated Angela and other important posts in the Gojjam.

This district of Abyssinia is around the source of the Blue Nile, and lies only about 100 miles north-west of Addis Ababa, the capital. Angela is 160 miles from Addis Ababa. It is from this northern area that reports of risings by the Abyssinians against the Italians have been most frequent.

British forces from Barentu (Eritrea) are pushing on eastwards. Haile Selassie's troops have occupied Dangila and other posts and are closely pursuing the Italians fleeing northward.

The Stefani (Italian) agency states that the native Ethiopian army is being organised in Asmara (Eritrea) under Ras Gugsa and other chieftains who have summoned the natives to beat wardrums on Italy’s behalf. The Duke of Aosta, the agency says, has telegraphed Mussolini: "We will last somehow and are ready for any sacrifice for victory." CAIRO (Wednesday). Raiders this morning dropped bombs on the Suez Canal area. There was no damage or casualties.