EXCELLENT WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1941, Page 5

EXCELLENT WORK

OF CAPE TRANSPORT COMPANIES

OF GREAT VALUE IN ERITREA.

PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY 7 FACILITATED.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.20 a.m.) RUGBY. January 31

In reference to the Eritrean campaign emphasis is laid upon the assistance to the British army advancing on Agordat and Barcntu by Cape technical transport companies, mentioned in yesterday's communique. These companies have kept up a first-class standard of maintenance and efficiency and the pursuit of the Italians could not have been carried out without their excellent work. They consist of Europeans and non-Europeans and were raised shortly after the outbreak of war. They are the legitimate offspring of the Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Corps, which did similar efficient work with horses in the last war. On the Kenya front, British troops are close to Moyale. where the Italians are making a stand, and arc still in possession of the British part of the town. RESISTANCE AT DERNA STRONGEST THUS FAR MET. BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav. 9.20 ant.) RUGBY. January 31. No doubt is felt in authoritative circle in London that the Italian resistance at Derna has been stronger than any hitherto met with by the .Army of the Nile. This is thought to be due to the fact that the Italian trops there had not been involved in previous fighting and were not infected with the known lack of morale encountered at Bardin and Tobruk, and also had not boon so heavily shelled as the troops defending those places. The British advance continues along tile coast to Apolloniu, -10 miles away, tralian patrol went to the beach and approached Derna from the east. These ran into a had of fire from a fort, but hung on though without water nr f.,<»d for 2-1 hour.. Climbing all night over country that is identical with the coast on which their fathers fought at Gallipoli, they reached an almost perpendicular hill- ■ ide •.(in yards from the fort. After water-carriers had brought uj rations and water the troops rushed tile lull and entered the fort. They left some dead outside. They herded in a Courtyard fifl officers and men who had • nrr<-ndered m a quad <■■■ Aura!, ans whom they outimmber c-d three to one. The rest of the j-I:i t« -r>rs •; carried or, cleaning up machine-gun m-u- and isolated snipers. Mopping up in the Itulche: and .split ridges prolonged the • j erati'ins, which were further hampered by bl riding tandsiorntx. These delays, combined w iih the broken rolin'l-y and the- -ent t.-red nature of Derna def* .■.<■»■ believed have allow.- ‘ m .• of th.- <p f..< i..,- . . ..j,. draw •. ■ •!:<• t The It ’ ■ - ; ■ - at Derna Ja'c fis'kle;- Th,. .ll<rv n .-e,; tif <■ ■ ta! ..... ... ■ . ’ _ j . , .. .