BRITISH FALL BACK

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 5

BRITISH FALL BACK

FIGHTING IN SOMALILAND STATE UNSATISFACTORY (Ofllclal Wireless) (Received August 16, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 15 Today’s war communique issued at Cairo states: In Somaliland yesterday the enemy, having brought up fresh effectives, launched a violent attack. After holding their forward position for several hours, causing severe losses on the enemy, our troops fell back to positions at the rear, where the fighting continues. It is now known that the enemy are employing against us the greater part of two divisions, complete with artillery and armoured fighting vehicles, originally intended to oppose the French forces in French Somaliland. There is nothing to report on the other front. Mr Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons, said the news from Somaliland is unsatisfactory. He will deal generally with the Eastern situation in a statement which he proposed to make in the House of Commons next week. The House will adjourn on Thursday and will reassemble on September 5. Mr Churchill’s Bad New* Mr Churchill said: “I have bad news from Somaliland. A small British force holding Jugargan has been driven back by greatly superior forces amounting to two divisions, with armoured units and considerable artillery. The operations are continuing.” The Situation Serious It is authoritatively stated that the situation in Somaliland is still serious. The Italians advanced along the Zeila-Berbera coast road more rapidly than expected and are now twenty miles west from Bulhar. The Italians number from 9000 to 10,000 and our forces are heavily out-numbered.