“THIS GREAT DAY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1941, Page 6

“THIS GREAT DAY”

RECAPTURE OF BERBERA I OPERATION ADMIRABLY PLANNED. SOMALI EXILES TAKE PART. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY. March 18. The recapture of Berbers by means of combined land, sea and air operations Is described today in a cablegram from Aden. At'about midnight on March 15, the liberating fleet crept darkly and silently towards the Somaliland coast. The night was calm and the moon, sometimes obscured by clouds, dimly showed the long, low line of the foreshore, with the mass of mountains beyond. The convoys of troops were protected by warships. i Previously. British aircraft had photographed the whole position, revealing the Italian plan of defence. The assault was skilfully planned, therefore, to force the Italians to divide their already depleted and demoralised forces. The result of this plan was most successful. Two landings were to be made, at the places most unfavourable for the defenders. The western one was entrusted to picked Indian regiments, supported by engineers and artillery, while the eastern one was to be carried out by a force of Somalis and Arabs specially raised for the purpose at Aden and officered by Englishmen. The loyalty of the Aden Arabs is well known, but nothing during the past seven months has more deeply impressed those in contact with the Somalis in Aden —many of whom are exiles—than their implicit faith in Britain's power to liberate their land from Fascist usurpation. So they eagerly enlisted in this special force, whose completely successful attack is now known.

Just before the zero hour, one of the British warships crept in as near to the coast as possible and lowered a tiny skiff. In the skiff were three men. under the command of a lieutenant. Their task was to mark the landing beach without being detected by the enemy. A signal flashed the success of this operation and expectation grew tense. Suddenly, at the zero hour, the dim peace of land and water was ripped and shattered by the flash and thunder of naval gunfire. Away on the right, the west wing of the force went into the assault and the way had been paved for the Somali force to land and advance along the shore towards Berbera, about two miles distant. It was learned later that the greater part of the Italian forces had left the town under cover of darkness just before the British approach, but they left large enough numbers to make it necessary for us to crush them with force. Mach-ine-guns and field guns<tried to hold up the advance of the Somali forces, but the accuracy of the British naval gunners in the murky light, and with only an occasional flash to give them their aim, was amazing. Later it was discovered how occurate that gunnery had been. In the enemy positions the guns were all abandoned headlong under the searching and destructive fire. The Somali and Arab force was now advancing. Then came news of the success of the major attack, on the west wing. By 9.20, the operation was completely successful and it was all over. Berbera was once more in British hands.

Our casualties were negligible and we had taken more than a hundred prisoners. Even during the bombardment, the inhabitants of Berbera came running out to meet our forces. They came waving Union Jacks and Somaliland flags, which they , had hidden from the Italian authorities against this great day.