ANOTHER BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1941, Page 5

ANOTHER BLOW

STRUCK AT ITALIANS IN AFRICA RECAPTURE OF BRITISH SOMALILAND. NEW FRONT OPENED UP. “The British Hag again flies over Berbera” (capital of British Somaliland) —so runs an official report broadcast by the 8.8. C. this morning. A communique from Cairo states that on Sunday British forces made a surprise landing in British Somaliland and recaptured Berbera. The convoy was escorted by warships and the R.A.F. also took part. The Italians made only a slight attempt ,to resist, opening fire with machine-guns and heavy artillery, but this was quickly overcome by gunfire from the British warships. The recapture of Berbera opens up a new front for the defenders of Mussolini's crumbling empire. In Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, and many parts of Abyssinia the Italians have already been driven from one strong defensive position to another by the advancing British troops. From Berbera, a good road runs along the coast to a point that brings it within 60 miles of the railway from the coast (of French Somaliland) to Addis Ababa. FINAL PHASE ATTACK ON MUSSOLINI’S EMPIRE. COLLAPSE EXPECTED SOON IN ABYSSINIA. LONDON. March 17. The British United Press Cairo correspondent says the British are now within easy gun range of Jigjiga. The final phase of the Ethiopian offensive has begun and the capitulation of the Italians is foreseen early in April. In connection with Keren, in Eritrea, a correspondent states that at a point three miles before Keren, the road turns sharply around a chain of peaks and enters a gorge. The Italians hold positions along these peaks, and British troops have taken up positions on the other chain facing them. Before they can advance the Italians must be dislodged. ITALIAN AIR FORCE RECENT HEAVY LOSSES IN ABYSSINIA. EIGHTEEN PLANES DESTROYED OR DAMAGED. A Nairobi communique states, the 8.8. C. reports, that in the last three days South African fighter pilots have shot down or damaged 18 Italian planes in Eastern Abyssinia. An Italian plane flew over Nairobi, but it was flown by a South African pilot. It was abandoned by the Italians at Mogadishu, where it was under repair. A R.A.F. Middle East communique reports successful attacks on Italian aerodromes in Tripolitania. Four enemy. aircraft were destroyed and buildings set on fire. In Eritrea the R.A.F. made further heavy attacks on enemy positions in the Keren area, when they bombed and machine-gunned motor transport and troop concentrations, besides railways and roads. HEAVY AIR ATTACKS TN TRIPOLI & ERITREA. (Received This Day, 11.17 a.m.) RUGBY. March 17. A R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “In Tripolitania, on the night of March 15, a heavy attack was carried out on the aerodromes of Castel Benito and Makina. Direct hits were registered on an ammunition dump at the Casted Benito aerodrome and other fires were started on the south side. At Makina, bombs were dropped among dispersed aircraft, starting a number of fires, which destroyed at least four enemy aircraft. Others were severely damaged by bomb blast. Fires were also caused among buildings, and as the last bomber left a violent explosion occurred among the dispersed aircraft. “Very heavy attacks were carried out on enemy positions in and around Keren, in Eritrea, both yesterday and on the previous day. British aircraft bombed and machine-gunned motor transport and troop concentrations, as well as the railway and roads. “It is now reported that in the very successful attack on Diredawa aerodrame on March 15. in which the enemy lost eight aircraft, two British aircraft did not return. The pilot of one, however, is safe. From all the other operations the British aircraft returned safely, with the exception of one bomber.”