RECAPTURE OF BERBERA

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21373, 18 March 1941, Page 5

RECAPTURE OF BERBERA

BRITISH FLAG FLIES AGAIN BRILLIANT ATTACK-WARSHIPS’ ACCURATE FIRE DISINTEGRATION OF MUSSOLINI’S AFRICAN EMPIRE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Coyright) (Received March 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 17 Once again the British flag is flying in British Somaliland. Berbera, capital of this North African territory, has fallen to British arms after a brilliant attack from the sea. The Italians offered some resistance, but accurate fire from the warships silenced the enemy batteries and paved the way for the landing party. The disintegration of Mussolini’s African empire grows apace, for now there remains no spot on the African continent where the Italians can feel secure from the threat of British arms.

Since a small British force evacuated British Somaliland last year in the face of overwhelming odds, no attempt had been made until now to drive the Italians out.

LANDING OF TROOPS CONVOYED BY WARSHIPS HEAVY FIRE ENCOUNTERED MANY PRISONERS TAKEN (Official Wireless) r (Received March 18, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, March 17 Further details of the British reoccupation of Berbera show that the landing troops were convoyed by warships. Machine-gun and artillery fire was encountered from the shore, but was overcome by fire from the British ships. One hundred prisoners have already been taken and more are coming in. The British casualties are negligible. Advance in All Sectors The Italians had been in occupation of Berbera for eight months. A Cairo headquarters communique states: In Libya there is no change in the situation. British and Indian troops in Eritrea captured important heights in a position covering Keren. The general advance of the Imperial patriot forces continues in all sectors of Abyssinia. The British flag again flies over Berbera. It was recaptured yesterday after the British troops had made a successful landing in cooperation with units of the Royal Navy.” THE FINAL PHASE _ BRITISH IN ABYSSINIA ON WAY TO ADDIS ABABA L (United Free* Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 17 The British are now within easy gun range of Jijiga, on the road to the Abyssinian capital of Addis Ababa, states the Cairo correspondent of the British United Press. The final phase of the Abyssinian offensive has begun, he adds. The capitulation of the Italians by early in April is foreseen. HURRIED FLIGHT TOOLS DOWNED SUDDENLY ITALIAN PLANE CAPTURED AFRICAN AIRMEN’S SUCCESS (Official Wireless) (Received March 18, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, March 17 The only Italian bomber to fly over Nairobi, states the Air Ministry News Service, did so the other day, piloted by a South African Air Force pilot. As the aircraft, a Caproni 133, circled the town the Italian marking, a white cross on the tail, was easily discernible, but no air raid warning was sounded, for on the fuselage wings were roundeils bearing the colours of the South African Air Force. The Caproni, a three-engined monoplane, had been flown 650 miles from Mogadiscio, where it was left by the Italians in process of overhaul when they made a hurried departure. “The engines.” said one of the crew, “had apparently just been put back, as they were loosely bolted down, and other parts which had been taken off the aircraft for inspection were found nenr at hand. It was clear that the Italians had downed tools suddenly and fled. We walked in and completed the overhaul.” A mechanic with ten years' experience described the Caproni's superstructure as primitive. He added that although the general performance of the aircraft was not good it was particularly steady in the air. The Caproni was flown to Nairobi by a lieutenant-coicnel of the South African Air Force.