Evening star., 1941-03-19
Important Positions
Captured South Of
Cheren, British Say
Italian Attacks RepuIsed
With Heavy Losses to
Fuscists, Cairo Asserts
BY TIE Associated Press.

BY ut Associated Press.
CAIRO, Egypt, March 19.-British
forces have captured additional
important positions" south of be-
sieged Cheren in Eritrea and re-
pulsed Italian counter-attacks with
serious losses" to the Fascists, the
Middle East command announced
today.
THE situation continues to de-
velop favorably," the general head
quarters war bulletin added.
The action was part of a cam
paign aimed at smashing the Ital-
ians before the rainy season starts,
military circles indicated.
The occupation Monday of Jijiga,
Ethiopia, was announced today in
Cairo and at Nairobi, Kenya colony,
and the Middle East command said
"Our general advance is continuing +"
Particularly heavy pressure by
Ethiopian natives was said to be de-
veloping against Debra Markos, in
Northwestern Ethiopia above Adds
Ababa.
Heavy Italian forces have held up
the BRUSH at Cneren.
r. A. F. Aids Cheren Drive.
The pressure of land forces on
Cheren was aided by heavy as
sault from the R. A. F., British air
headquarters announced. Italian
troops and gun positions in the hills
around the town were heavily
bombed and machine-gunned," the
r. A. F. communique said.
In Southern Ethiopia South Afri-
can airmen dive-bombed Italian de-
lenses in Marda Pass, attacked motor
transport on the Harar road and
strafed railway train.
An army described as the greatest
ever assembled in this area has been
gathered by Britain for the effort
touched off by the launching of a
new offensive two days ago in the
Cheren sector of Eritrea, where 35,-
900 Italians troops entrenched on
strategic heights have been blocking
the path to the colonial capital of
Asmara and the Red Sea coast.
International in character, this
army includes troops from Australia,
New Zealand, India and other Brit
ish lands, augmented by free
French" Belgian, Polish and Czech
units.
Hundreds of U. S. Planes Gathered.
An imposing mass of equipment,
including several hundred American
planes, has been assembled for the
big push
Advices from the front indicated
the Cheren offensive was timed to
coincide with an accelerated drive
into Ethiopia, which has been vir-
tually encircled by British successes
in the last few weeks.
Two British columns, pushing
deeper into Ethiopia from the south,
were reported approaching Negheli,
from where a passable road offers
an approach to the capital at Adds
Ababa.
To the east, British troops who
recaptured Berbera, capital of Brit
ish Somaliland, from the Italians
last Sunday, were said to be fam
ming out and threatening Ethiopia
with attack from a new direction.
Other forces are driving into West
ern and Northwestern Ethiopia.
Although most observers expected
the spring grains to begin within the
next two weeks, they said roads
built by the Italians in their con-
quest of Ethiopia probably would
permit the British to continue their
drive, despite the weather.
Cheren Capture Difficult.
The Italian position at Cheren
was regarded in military circles as
the most difficult with which the
British have had to cope in East |
Africa.
The British high command has
been preparing for the assault for
six weeks, however, and the first two
days OF fighting were said to have
resulted in capture at bayonet point |
of Brigadiers Peak, highest in the
range.
The second highest peak, Sanchil,
which commands the road to Cheren |
from the west, was said to be under
attack today, with the r. A. F. help
ing to soften resistance.
The Italians were said to have re-
inforced their troops with the crack |
Savoy grenadiers rushed from Adds
Absba.