Evening star., 1941-02-06
British Close in
On Eritrean
Railroad Town
Troops Expected
To Reach Bengosi
Within 48 Hours
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
British began offensive against
Italians in Africa December 8
NTH capture OF Fascist outpost
OF Stdi Barrant in Egypt. They
then took, in order, Bdrdtu,
Tobruk, Dernd and Cirene and
are no1O approaching Bengdsi. In
East Africa British forces are
closing in on Italian territory
from three sides.
BY the Associated Press.
CAIRO, Egypt, Feb. 6.-British
forces in Africa are closing in on
Cheren, important railroad town in
Italy's Eritrea, British headquartera
announced today.
In Northern Africa the advance
of the army of the Nile on Ben
gasi. Libya, progresses satiSfac-
torily," communique said.
On both fronts. separated by some
1000 miles of desert and rough hills
country, the Royal Air Force car
ried on violent bombings to prepare
the way for the advancing land
forces. an R. A. F communique said.
Italian Positions Bombed.
Dive bombers made smashing at
tacks on the Italian gun positions
in the hills around Cheren and on
the road east of the town. At Ba-
rentu two Italian planes we're cap
tured and one shot down.
Cheren lies about 40 miles north
east of Agordat. which the British
captured last Saturday, and is about
halfway on the railroad line be-
tween Agordat and Massaua, Err
treas principal Red Sea port.
The Italian positions about Cheren
are believed to be strongly fortified
and the country is wild and rugged.
making motorized advances difficult.
Farther south in Eritrea, the Brit
lSh said, the Fascist forces which
had withdrawn eastward from Ba-
rentu we're vigorously pressed in the
Tole area.
Due in Bengasi in 48 Hours.
The British pace in North Africa
was expected to bring them TO the
gates of Bengasi in about 48 hours.
Since the beginning of the East
African campaign, the communique
said. about $500 prisoners. mostly
Italians, have been taken with
further captures of military material
of all descriptions
The British are making good
progress in their advance along the
Gondar road in Ethiopia, the COM
munique declared, in spite of numer-
Gus minefields left by the retreatinG
Italians.
Royal Air Force headquarters an
nounced that bombers had raideci
Benina (Bengasis airport and Tho
town of Berka on the night of Feb
ruary As.
Two hangers were destroyed at
Benina. the R. A. F. said, and a
large fire, probably of oil. was
started Bombs also burst among
motor transport vehicles and on the
landing ground, after which the
British swept the buildings with ma
chine-gun fire.
The barracks and airdrome at
Berka and the railway station at
BARGE were given the same kind of
treatment, the communique said.
On the same night other R. A. F.
planes attacked the Martha Air
drome on the Island of Rhodes.
Italians Leaving Bengasi.
Pilots of Royal Air Force bombers,
blasting a path for the British
advance, told of seeing Italian
trucks rolling southwark out OF
Bengasi along the coastal road
which offers the only overland line
of retreat from the town.
There was no indication of the
magnitude of this movement, bur
east of Bengasi the Italians were
reported in full retreat toward the
town with the British at their heels.
Panic-stricken Italian settlers,
who emigrated to this fertile region
in large numbers in recent years.
were said in British reports to be
tangled with columns of Blackshirt
troops falling back upon Bengasi.
Move 30 Miles a Day.
Reports from the front indicated
British advance units. moving at
a 30-mile-a-day clip, were within
60 miles Of Bengasi. This would
place the British close to the Italian
air base at BARGE, reported bombed
repeatedly in recent days. A mar
row-gauge railway runs from BARGE
to Bengasi.
A military spokesman declared
there had been marked speeding
up of the tempo of the British
advance not only in Libya but in
East Africa, where the Italians were
reported falling back steadily on
three fronts.
In Eritrea, the Italians were said
to be abandoning vehicles and sup
plies in a retreat toward Asmara,
the colonial capital. Last reports
from the front put the British
within 40 miles of that town.
In Ethiopia, Italian troops, who
have been virtually cut off from
IL
reported withdrawing further into
the interior along roads little better
than muletracks. harried by fierce
tribeSmen.
The British declared their colonial
(See AFRICA, Page A-210