IN FULL RETREAT
ITALIANS IN ALL AFRICAN THEATRES . British Forces Making Headway in Somaliland REINFORCEMENTS CONCENTRATING ROUND DERNA ENEMY MAY BE PREPARING TO EVACUATE ABYSSINIA Yesterday’s communique from Cairo, the 8.8. C. states, shows that the Italians are in full retreat in every war theatre of their widespread Africam empire. In Italian Somaliland our troops have crossed into enemy territory all along the frontier. In Libya, operations round Derna are developing satisfactorily. The number of prisoners taken at Tobruk is not less than 25,000. Twenty-two medium tanks and 28 light tanks were captured. The counting of captured guns is proceeding. In Eritrea British troops are closing in on enemy forces in the region of Agordat. Over 1,100 prisoners have been taken in that area. Operations in the Metemma region are progressing and in the interior of Abyssinia further defeats have been inflicted on the Italians by patriot forces. A commentator observes that advanced British units were reported two days ago to be within three miles of Derna. These units are now being reinforced in a continuation of the successful tactics which led up to the capture of Bardia and Tobruk. The British troops are now in territory very different from the desert they have traversed hitherto. They have entered hilly country in which water supplies are more plentiful. In Eritrea, our troops are rapidly approaching the railway which runs from Agordat to Massawa on the Red Sea coast. In Abyssinia, where new successes by the patriot forces are reported almost daily, the Italians are believed to be attempting to remove large quantities of supplies. They may even be preparing to evacuate the country altogether. The R.A.F. continues to play an important part in the African operations. An aerodrome 60 miles north-east of the important enemy base of Benghazi was raided heavily on Sunday. Hits were made on dispersed aircraft and a hangar and on adjacent buildings. An attack was also made on the landing ground at Derna, and on another south of (Derna. Three enemy fighters were shot down by British fighters. Two enemy planes which were attempting to attack our troops at Derna were also shot down. Another enemy plane was destroyed on the ground. With the exception of one fighter reported missing in Libya, all the British planes returned safely.
MARSHAL GRAZIANI
STORY OF DISMISSAL. AN UNCONFIRMED ATHENS. REPORT. It is reported from Athens that Marshal Graziani, commander-in-chief of the Italian forces in Africa, has been dismissed. It is stated that his successor is a general who took a prominent part in the Italian campaign in Abyssinia. So far there is no confirmation of this report.—B.B.C. PLIGHT OF THE ENEMY IN ABYSSINIA GARRISONS SAID TO BE ROTTEN WITH MUTINY. ABANDONMENT OF OUTLYING POSTS. LONDON. January 26. While the Italian North African empire is staggering under smashing blows from the Army of the Nile, which is apparently taking Derna in its stride, reliable sources suggest that the Abyssinian rebellion will quickly force a crisis which may result in the Italians evacuating Abyssinia and attempting a last stand in the Eritrean hills. A member of the British mission in Abyssinia who spent months in the heart of the country says that the patriot army will be doubled and even trebled in the next few weeks. He says that the Italians are planning evacuation and are already moving supplies to Eritrea because of the fear that the present uprising will shortly blaze up into widespread revolt. Abyssinian patriots daily gather information from the Italian garrison towns, showing that the Fascists are rapidly shifting all stocks of grain to Eritrea. Requisitioning parties are also visiting villages and buying grain at any price, almost causing a famine in big towns in the interior. Other sources indicate that the rebellion is not confined to the Abyss.inlans, as the Italian garrisons realising the hopelessness o( the position in Abjssinia, are reported to be rotten with mutiny. Garrisons in outlying Italian posts are refusing to remain and are falling back on to Addis Ababa. INVASION OF ERITREA. The British advance in Eritrea meanwhile continues unabated. Renorts received from Cairo tonight indicated that the invaders are nearly 100 mites inside the frontier. On the northern front scattered fighting is continuing in the Derna zone, where British mechanised forces are sweeping the countryside, and cutting oil many packets of Italians p.-nd-
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1941, Page 5
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723IN FULL RETREAT Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1941, Page 5
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