The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-04
ITALIAN FORCES
 QUIT FIRST LINE
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 Their line of retreat was most difficult one, military authorities here said, but presumably they had no alternative route. However, pur- suit also was difficult. The moun- tainous country is gashed by innu- merable gorgeS and ravineS and cov- cred with bush which is sometimes 10 feet high.
 Ethiopian Campaign.
 British empire forces were report ed making satisfactory progress in Ethiopia, despite Italian attempts to delay them by blocking gullies which provide the only passable routes.
 In the Dukana zone, 90 miles east of Lake Rudolf in Southern Ethio- pia, British empire patrons were re- ported gaining control of one water hole after another.
 The royal air force here an- nounced last night that bombing planes had made a successful and heavy raid on Castel Benito, the big Italian airplane base 10 miles south of Tripoli, yesterday. Several tons of high explosive and incen- diary bombs were dropped, it was said, and at least seven grounde Italian planes were destroyed.
 In adition, it was asserted, direct hits were made on large hangar and other buildings, and fires were started. Machine gun fire damaged several Italian planes in front of hangarS, 1t was said, and the British planes machine gunned other trans port and traffic on roads, causing considerable damage.
 Italian Report
 Rome, Feb. 4 - (UPD - Italian withdrawals in Eritrea to positions east of Agordat and Barentu were admitted by the Italian high com- mand in its communique today.
 The communique said that. after te Italian withdrawal to points be- tween Agordat and the Red Sea the British again attacked with armored cars and a mixed detachment of British Indian troops. It was claim ed, however, that the British att tack failed and that the British, re- treating, left arms and prisoners in the hands of the Italians.
 The communique said that last night Italian torpedo boats att tackled British convoy in the Red Sea strongly escorted" by cruisers and destroyers. They launched nine torpedoes and it was said, seven struck British ships.
 In North Africa, the communique said, there was intensive activity by both British and Italian aviation.
 On the Greek front (Albania) ac- tivity by artillery and patrols was hindred by bad weather.
 The enemy made air raids on some localities in Eritrea and Mo- gadiscio Capital of Italian SomaL- land" the communique said. There was some damage and many victims among the native population. One British plane was shot down and two of our planes did not return"
 Independent Ethiopia London, Feb. 4 - CUP) - The British government would welcome the reappearance of an independent Ethiopia and recognize the claim of Halle Selassie to the throne at Addis Ababa, foreign Secretary An thony Eden said ill the house of Commons today.
 The Negus now is in Ethiopia ral- lying his followers to revolt against Italy. Italian occupation of Ethiopia caused him to flee in May, 1886.
 "The emperor has intimated to his majesty's government that he needs outside assistance and guid- ance," Eden said. His majesty $ government agreed with this view and considered that any such as- sistance or guidance in economic and political matters should be sub ject to international arrangement upon the conclusion of peace" Eden said that Britain had nc territorial ambitions in Ethiopia.
 ."The conduct of military opera tionS by Imperial forces in parts of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) will require temporary measures of military guidance and control" he said These will be carried out in consul tation with the emperor and will be brought to an end as soon as the situation permits"