STIRRING STORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 January 1941, Page 5

STIRRING STORIES

WORK OF BRITISH MISSION IN ABYSSINIA EEVOLT NOW SPREADING IN THAT COUNTRY. STATEMENT BY MR EDEN EXPECTED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.2.5 a.m.) RUGBY. January 20. Stirring accounts are being published in the Press of the activities i of a small party of British officers and N.C.O's. who since July, from secret headquarters some hundreds of miles inside the Abyssinian frontier, have been organising resistance to the Italians by Abyssinian patriots and training the Ethioi pians in the use of modern war weapons, which Britain has been constantly sending by mule and camel convoys from the Sudan during the past few months. Their presence within the enemy lines soon became known to the Italians. who unsuccessfully combed the countryside to discover them. On one occasion a battalion sent in pursuit was within a few hundred yards of the mission, the members of which remained in a deep gorge until the immediate danger had passed. Later they proceeded to their headquarters, in a remote area, from which their only communication with the outside world was by courier, from mere harassing the enemy lines of communications, reconnoitring Italian positions and helping to guide British bom'oers to vulnerable places. The position of the Italians throughout East .Africa has« become increasingly perilous. Operations leading to the reoccupation of Kassala were carried out in the face of superior enemy forces and comprised continuous patrol activities aimed at the enemy lines of communication. They were so successful that the evacuation of Kassala became necessary.

| It is anticipated that Mr Anthony : Eden will take an early opportunity j of making a full and important statement on events in the East African theatre, with particular reference to the situation in Abyssinia, where recently the revolt has been spreading rapidly. FURTHER RETREAT j MADE BY THE ITALIANS IN ERITREA. ACTION ON ALL FRONTS. (British Official Wireless.) j (Received This Dav. 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, January 20, The further retreat of the Italians into Eritrea is reported by a Cairo headquarters communique, . which states: "In Libya there is nothing to report In the Sudan the enemy withdrawal on the Kassala front continues. "Localities about Sabdcrat and Ten- 1 ' nenia, which the Italians had strongly ; 'fortified, were occupied yesterday, | without opposition by our troops, who ■ I now are operating eastwards, in con-1 tact with lite retreating enemy. In the ’ Metemma area our patrols are again I active. "In Kenya, by continued offensive action, our mobile detachments are steadily gaining ground and inflicting casualties on the enemy." MANY RAIDS I RAF. OPERATIONS. ißritish Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. ff. 45 a.m.) RUGBY. January 20. , A R.A.F. Middle East communique' States: — "Although operations have i I been restricted by weather the R.A.F.’ I has carried out a number of recon-' naissances with lighter patrols in for-, ward areas. "In Albania a successful raid was i made on Berat. Explosive and incen- i 1 diary bombs fell on military conceit- ; ’ trillions, motor transport and build-i tings east of the town. Several fires i I were started. "In Italian East Africa, motor trans- ’ I port and gun positions were attacked j east of Tcsscni on the night of Janu-I I ary 18. All the bombs fell in the tari get area, but results could not be fully i jobserved Naxwa was twice raided ion the same night. Fires were Marled ■ and the attack was pressed home, despite intensive anti-aircraft tire Raids j also were modi' < n A. -ali and Her- ! geisa. All our aircraft f. turm-d sab - i ly.” DEFENCES PROBED ENTERPRISE OF PATROLS. ITALIANS SHOWING SIGNS OR NERVOUSNESS LONDON January 19 British patrols are daily making contact witti the enemy when i penetrating the outer defences of Tobruk, says a special correspondj ent of tlie "Daily Telegraph.” The patrols an- obtaining full ami ’ aeciirate details <.f the defence scheme iitTViiUS and furioii-. shelliei*’ alwaV< ’ f shows the • lighti t Bi it -h movement I A sernor- British otlin-r, m cmnmrtß|the courage and' o ? -.'' ’* . with the l-uli.-m ai> ■: jwm-e anyI erva'i .lide ;m,! •’>' m.pn'v.’"the' Led I f t c .. |. • . . . » f