ALMOST CUT OFF

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21364, 7 March 1941, Page 5

ALMOST CUT OFF

ITALIANS AT KEREN ABYSSINIAN REVOLT RELENTLESS PUSH (United Press Assn.-—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 6 The Rome radio announced that “ The position at Keren is critical. Our troops are nearly cut off from Asmara. Italians must suffer courageously during the Empire’s difficult times.” A military spokesman in Cairo said that the native revolt in Gojjam, Abyssinia, is spreading like wildfire, while the patriot force, under British officers, is pushing on relentlessly following the capture of Fort Burye. The various Italian garrisons in the Gojjam Province aggregate 20,000, of whom the bulk, under (Patriot pressure, are withdrawing gradually irom the western borders to Addis Ababa, and abandoning one strong point after another. Burye is 160 miles to the northwest of Addis Ababa, but Debra Markos, on which the Italians are falling back, is 40 miles nearer the capital, and is connected with it by a road suitable for motor traffic in dry weather. Capture of Kufra The Free French news service announces that, to mark the capture of Kufra, in Libya, General de Gaulle has sent the following message to the Commander of the Free French Forces which captured the fort:— “ The hearts of all Frenchmen are with you and with your troops. I congrululate you in their name on the magnificent success at Kufra. You have just shown the enemy that he had not finished with the French Army. The glorious troops of Free Chad and their leader are on the road to victory.” Kufra is the Libyan oasis the occupation of which the Italian army chief, Graziani, once described as a “ miracle ” of organisation which has stupefied our English and French neighbours.” He added “ Kufra is a step in the great symbolic march toward the realisation of the great destiny of Italy.” A military spokesman at Cairo said that the immediate problem of the Free French victors at Kufra is the disposal of 1000 prisoners, it would be a difficult task to transport them across the desert, and therefore possibly they will be disarmed and released at Kufra. The High Commissioner for Free French Equatorial Africa has received a visit irom the Governor of Nigeria. Food for Troops ' The Duca Dedgli Abruzzi agricultural colony, comprising some 60,000 acres with an experimental farm, which was captured some days ago, will prove a valuable acquisition ror the supply of food to the British Imperial Forces operating in Italian {Somaliland. Situated on the banks of the Webi Sheben, which has been dammed and an irrigation scheme installed, the area under cultivation has been steadily expanded, and five years ago had reached over 10,000 acres. Like all soil of the river system and coastal belt, it is immensely productive when irrigated. Cane sugar is produced in quantity, as well as bananas, other fruit and vegetables. Another crop recently exploited along the coastal belt of Somaliland is ground nuts, used for the manufacture of vegetable oil and cattle cake which, apart from what she has obtained from this colony, Italy has purchased from abroad. KILLED ON SERVICE AIR VICE-MARSHAL BREESE (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 7, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, March 6 Air Vice-Marshal C. D. Breese was killed on active service as a result of a flying accident. WAR M