SERVICE UNITY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21356, 26 February 1941, Page 6

SERVICE UNITY

LAND, SEA AND AIR SUCCESS OF OPERATIONS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 24 The conquest of Lower Jubaland and most of Upper Jubaland demonstrates afresh the power behind the concerted strategic employment of the three fighting services. This teamwork, says the Times, provides a striking parallel with the Libyan campaign. “Land, sea and air forces have been employed in combination,” says the Times. “Like the Army of the Nile, the men under Major-General A. G. Cunningham, officer commanding the British forces in East Africa, had to cross the desert before they could reach the enemy. They, also, managed, nevertheless, to take him by surprise.” The Times traces the campaign of the African Army from the opening action at El Wak, the capture of which gave the campaign an auspicious start. “The next important engagement,” it says, “was the successful attack on Afmadu, 100 miles inside the Italian Somaliland frontier. Here, as ■well as at El Wak, the South African Air Force did essential preliminary work. “As Kismayu was approached, the Royal Navy harassed the Italians along the coast between that place and Mogadiscio, in spite of attempts by Italian airmen to put the British ships out of action. Once the bridgeheads were in British hands and Kismayu had received the usual pounding from the air, its defence collapsed.”