SOUTH AFRICANS’ STERN ORDEAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 48, 26 February 1941, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICANS’ STERN ORDEAL

HEAVIEST SHELLING OF WAR POINT-BLANK RANGE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Feb. 25, 7.35 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 24. The South Africans’ greatest ordeal in capturing Jumbo began when two, companies of Capetown and Trans-1 vaal troops set out to capture a| bridge and ferry crossing the river | separating Gobuin and Jumbo. They; emerged from the bush into the open: country and encountered point-blank! artillery and machine-gun fire from Jumbo. The South Africans, during! their withdrawal, suffered the worst shelling since the campaign began, especially the Capetown troops, who; withdrew across the Gobuin drome where every target was accurately registered by the enemy. Two thousand shells fell in two hours. A company officer used an armoured car in the centre of the aerodrome for headquarters, and he gradually dribbled the men to shelter in the dunes. Another officer, who was wounded in an ambush the previous night, concealed the fact and carried on for 24 hours. The South Africans held on to the dunes for three days, being under shell and shrapnel fire daily, but the Italians showed no enterprise and did not attempt to cross the river. A Natal regiment mopped up the coastal area between Kismayu and the mouth of the Juba River, clearing up patrols and collecting large quantities of material hidden in seaside caves which the Italians fitted with steel doors.

Bridging materials and supplies rushed up in preparation for a full scale advance eastwards are virtually complete. British, French and Indian troops captured Kubkub, which is a natural defensive position. It was manned by a large number of wellarmed troops, but the prisoners taken in the town were surprised and did not believe a large force could succeed in smashing a way through the scrub-covered peaks dominating the road from El Ghena. The drive on Keren continues. Numerous Arabs are arriving in the British lines from Massawa, where they were employed. They say the food situation is so serious that the Italians drove them out. They say Massawa is in a state of panic and that refugees are pouring in from Asmara and Abyssinia. Several Italian warships in Massawa are making no effort to move, but are engaged solely in condensing sea water to help out the town’s supply.