WAR IN AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1941, Page 6

WAR IN AFRICA

BRITISH PATROLS ACTIVE ENEMY LOSSES IN SOLLUM SECTOR. PROGRESS IN ABYSSINIA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, April 16. A Cairo communique states: “Our troops are now in contact with the enemy along the whole of our front. In Libya, in the Tobruk area, the situation is unchanged. In the Solium sector, vigorous action by our patrols has again caused enemy losses of men and vehicles. Some prisoners were also taken. “In spite of extensive damage to the main Italian road in Abyssinia, our columns advancing from north and south towards Dessie are making steady progress. Further south our pursuit continues. In addition to General Santini, a brigade commander, forty officers, 200 Italians and 1,600 colonial troops have been captured within the last few days.”

ITALIAN REMNANTS FORCES IN ETHIOPIA. (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, April 16. It is believed that the remaining Italian forces in Abyssinia consist of 10,000 Italians and 12,000 natives in the Dossie area, 8,000 Italians and, 9.000 natives in the Gondar area, and 22,000 Italians and 15,000 natives in the Jimma area. Since the capture of Addis Ababa, 5,000 Italians and 3,000 African troops have been captured. General Pesanti is among the prisoners. FURTHER GAINS CAPTURES ON LEFT BANK OF BLUE NILE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.46 a.m.) RUGBY, April 16. In Abyssinia, it is learned in London, our patrols attacked and routed the enemy at Safartak, 30 miles southeast of Debra Marcos and captured forts on the left bank of the Blue Nile in this sector. In the Adowa district, mechanised troops encountered an enemy position in the Dabarach area.