BALKANS & AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1941, Page 6

BALKANS & AFRICA

LAND & AIR OPERATIONS

BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

ENEMY LOSSES IN MANY AREAS.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, April 18

A communique from British General Headquarters in Cairo states: “In Greece, in face of increasing pressure by German forces which are daily being reinforced, the Greek and Imperial forces on the northern front are gradually withdrawing to a shorter line of defence. So far the German advance in this area has been a costly one. “In Libya our patrols have again been active in the vicinity of Tobruk and also at Solium. Many casualties in men and vehicles have been inflicted on the enemy, who is experiencing the dash, determination and fighting qualities of the Imperial troops in hand to hand encounters. A further five officers and 2 of other ranks have been captured.

“In Abyssinia, after negotiating extensive demolition and other physical difficulties, our troops are now in touch with the enemy fourteen miles south of Dessie, one of the remaining enemy strongholds in Italian East Africa. South, and south-west of Addis Ababa and also north from Neghelli and Yavello, the advance of our troops is also making satisfactory progress. Many more prisoners have been captured, including General Graziosi, who is wounded and was taken to hospital in Addis Ababa. Over the whole theatre of operations, patriot activities continue to develop satisfactorily. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: “Throughout yesterday and in the previous night aircraft of the R.A.F. and Royal Australian Air Force continued to harass the enemy iii Cyrenaica by repeated bombing and machine-gun attacks. Motor transport, enemy troops, landing grounds, stores and dumps were bombed repeatedly during the day and considerable damage was caused. At Derna, bombs fell among a number of enemy aircraft dispersed on the ground. Fires were started and heavy detonations were felt by the pilots three thousand feet up. “In Greece, our aircraft continued offensive patrols, during one of which a Messerschmitt 109 was shot down. “On other fronts there is little of importance to report.

“From all these operations our aircraft returned safely.”