PELL-MELL withdrawal

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 6 February 1941, Page 7

PELL-MELL withdrawal

ITALIAN RETREAT ACCELERATED BRITISH ADVANCE ON ALL FRONTS ROYAL AIK FORCE SUPPORTS THE ARMIES (Received Feb. 6, 11 a.m.) 1 (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copvright) LONDON, Feb. 5 Italian forces are accelerating their retreat on all battle iont> in Africa. Roads along which the enemy is endeavouting to make good its escape from menacing British guns in Eritrea are littered with abandoned Italian gear and war material, eloquent indication of the pell-mell withdrawal of Mussolini’s armies. The British are steadily increasing their pressure around Keren. The Italians are speeding up their withdrawal to Benghazi in Libya, the fleeing columns being incessantly harried by fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force. Motor vehicles half-way between the coast and Benghazi were heavily attacked from the air, causing great damage and adding to the confusion of the enemy. Aerodromes also received their daily pounding from the air force. Relentlessly pushing forward, tile British forces in north-west Abyssinia are carrying all before them, while in die south the African Air Force is hacking up patrols. The Royal Air force was active on all fronts vesterdav, destroying altogether 20 enemy aircraft with llie'loss of only one bntisn lighter and one bomber. In the Mediterranean the Fleet has been cruising within range of the Italian air force, hut has not been molested. Light units of the Fleet are carrying out operations along the Libyan coast without interference.