Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CAIRO, Egypt. Jan. 27.-British
imperial forces smashing by land
and air at Italy's African empire
on fronts 1000 miles apart have
driven nearly 80 miles into Eritrea
and are continuing Libyan prepara-
tions for an assault on the port of
Derna. the Near East command an
nounced today.
British headquarters also an
nounced that $4,000 Italian prisoners
had been seized in last weeks cap
ture of the Libyan port base of
Tobruk and that 100 prisoners have
been taken thus far in the invasion
of Eritrea. These figures brought to
Ill 900 the number of Italian prison.
ers reported taken by the British
since they launched their African
offensive.
Pacing the land operations in the
Derna area, the R. A. F. announced
raids on the landing ground there
and at BARGE. another Libyan base,
where a number OF Fascist craft on
the ground and buildings were re-
ported hit.
Planes Reported DOwned.
Five Italian planes we're reported
doWned. three of them near Mechile,
south of Derna. and two others
which were attacking British troops
advancing on Derna itself. A sixth
Italian craft was said TO have been
destroyed on a landing field near
Mechile. One British plane was re-
ported missing.
The British war bulletin also re-
ported that the British forces were
closing in on the important rail
center of Agordat and on Barentu.
both in Erltrea, and that operations
IN the Derna area of Libya were
developing satisfactorily"
In addition to the prisoners cap
tured at Tobruk. the communioue
said % medium and % light tanks
were seized. 1t added that the
counting and sorting of guns cap
tured there is proceeding
nm Hagar Abandoned.
The Italians were reported 10 have
abandoned Umm Haear. in Southern
Eritrea near the juncture of the
frontiers with the Anglo-Egyptian
Sudan and Ethiopia. The British
command added that its forces were
closely pursuing the retrea ting
FaSciStS in this sector.
Agordat is 80 miles inside Eritrea
from the Sudan border and is the
railhead Of a line to Asmara. the
Eriterean capital 10 miles farther
east. Barentu is so miles inside
| Eritrea and SO miles southwest of
Agordat.
Farther down in Africa. today s
war bulletin said operations were
progressing in the Metemma area
and further successes were reported
by Ethiopian natives against Italians
in their FasciSt-conQuered kingdom
British patrols operating in Italian
Somaliland, opposite the Kenya
border, have engaged in successful
encounters "along the whole front"
the British command asserted.
Planes Give Support.
British planes gave continued
support to the army in its ad-
vance in Eritrea, the communicate
added
British troops are reported in
battle contact with the garrison
of Derna. gateway to the mountain
plateau where some observers pre-
dicted today Marshal Rodolfo
GRAHAM might make last stand to
defend his base at Bengasi.
British said there had been some
clashes already around Derna
reached three days ago by advance
British mechanical units which
since have been reinforced bv in
fantry and artillery brought 95 miles
from captured Tobruk.
Operations Progressing.
Official announcement of the
action there was limited to state
ments that the operations were pro-
crossing satisfactorily.
Around Derna is the African Eden
to which Premier Mussolini sent
Italian colonists by the hundreds to
farm the fertile valleys of the Gebel
Akdar Green Mountains which
observers say now might afford Mar
shall Graziani the rugged terrain for
stand to guard Bengasi. $50 miles
farther along the Cirenaican coast
There were no reports. however,
that Marshal Graziani so far has
(See IIRYA Page Ar