CONTACT MADE IN SOMALILAND

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 5

CONTACT MADE IN SOMALILAND

ITALIAN INSULTS TO BRITISH TROOPS “LACK WAR SPIRIT MANLY, WARLIKE ITALIANS" (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 13, 11 a.m.) ROME, August 12 A communique states: Our troops in British Somaliland made contact with a heavy enemy concentration. Signor Gayda, writing in the Giornale d’ltalia, states that Italians in Africa are facing Australian, New Zealand, South African, British and Indian troops, who “lack the war spirit and have an inferior command of fighting will and organisation when facing the manly, warlike, qualities of the Italians. This explains the British retreats.”

Havoc In Enemy Camps

It is announced from Cairo that troops from various parts of the Empire have assembled to reinforce the Somaliland Camel Corps, which is headed by Brigadier A. R. Chater. who has had 20 years’ experience of Middle East and African conditions. British resistance to the Italian advance so far has been confined to bombing columns, which are moving through parched country and throw up clouds of dust, making clear targets for the Royal Air Force. A Nairobi message says our ground troops reconnoitring toward Dobel. 30 miles south of Moyale, found it strongly held by the enemy. The Daily Mail’s Cairo correspondent says Italian forces frorr Hargeisa and Oadweina are in th fringes of the hills, in which an engagement with British forces is im minent. Scouts and reconnoitring aeroplanes report the Italians’ every movement. Snipers hidden in the barren foothills pick off soldiers, relentlessly cutting off and rounding up stragglers. At night Somali warriors creep up and overwhelm sentries and outposts and cause havoc in enemy camps. Stunted thorn trees are the Italians' only protection, but the British have built stone redoubts and machinegun nests.