-THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 19, 1941.
Italians Fighting Hard To Save Keren
KEREN, WHICH WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF ITALIAN ERITREA AND PERHAPS THE WHOLE OF ITALIAN EAST AFRICA, NOW APPEARS TO BE IN AN INCREASINGLY DES- PERATE POSITION, ACCORDING TO RE-
FROM PORTS
BRITISH AND ITALIAN SOURCES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS,
Despatches from Khartoum, British com- muniques from Cairo and Nairobi and an Italian communique from Rome tell a story of heavy italian losses in embittered counter- attacks against the beleaguering British and Imperial Army.
A British Army communique| from Cairo yesterday also repont- ed that pressure by Tupersal and! pati mat forces in Abyssinia es be ing maintained survesstully over a wide area against the retreat- ing Italans.
British troops, it added, arc extending the arca of occupa tion in British Somabland. From the north, British and French troops are pushing across a wilderness of ridges towards the road leading from Keren.
Battle Of Keren
Several heights, held by the Italians, still separate them from the road, which is ideal for de-
fence
The British have to assait posi-¦
ions which the Italians have had a month to prepare, and they are faced with greatly superior num- bers, estimated at 30,000)
The Battle of Keren, therefore, is expected to last several days. Reuter.
Temperature of 105
Very severe fighting 13 pro-
front ceeding on the Keren
in 105
Eritrea in a temperature of degrees, it was stated in Cairo yesterday.
Exact details yet are lacking but it is believed there has been hand-to-hand fighting in this mountain warfare.
The chemy is making determin-
CRUSHING ITALIAN
DEFEAT
AMERICANS WARNED TO LEAVE FRANCE
American
citizens in unoccupied France have been asked by the United States Em- bassy to leave, accord- ing to a Paris de- spatch to the official German news agency. The agency adds their permits will not be renewed.-Reuter.
LAKHIMPUR AIR
The crushing defeat| ATTACKS WARNING sustained by the Italians The District Commission of (India) yesterday when their seven-days' Lakhimpur
warned the peuple of Digbol and offensive on the Albanian Tinsukia to be ready for possible i front was hurled back,air attacks, says Reuter has forced them into in- activity, according to the Greek radio last night.
Only activity on Monday was by Greek patrols, said an official Greek statement broadcast from Athens.
The statement adds that the patrols were successful. Reliable information, it shows that the Italians are at- tempting to reorganise their dis-
tressed formations but it is
L all certain that such a
will organisations
permit
my
adds,
met
re-
the
to risk another offensive.
Attacks Repulsed
Repeated Italian local were repulsed with losses by the Greeks
attacks considerable yesterday,
states a Greek communique quot- ed by Athens radio.
A successful manoeuvre in the
ed counter-attacks bul, according | Aros region resulted in 185 pri-
to the British military spokes- soners being taken. man, all these have been heidi
successfully.
East proceeding
Other operations on the African frontier are satisfactorily.
Berbera Capture
The recapture of Berbera, it wag stated, provided a supreme example of cooperation be tween the three Services. The R.A.F. first bombed and
Reuter.
BAG SNATCHED FROM A CAR
out.
While sitting in her car side the Alhambra Theatre yes- day afternoon, Mrs. Chan Lo-sal. of No. 35, Bonham Road, had her handbag snatched by Au Ki, 22.
photographed the enemy posi- Mrs. Chan raised an alarm and
tions.
The Fleet bombarded the town and finally two forces land- ed at dawn, meeting with only slight opposition. The whole operation was brilliantly execut- ed and took only five hours Lo carry out.-Reuter.
and
of
several passers-by chased arrested Au Ki on the roof a house in Temple Street.
Before Mr. H. C. Macnamara
at Kowloon this morning, accus- ed was sentenced to three months' hard labour.
WAR CABINET'S ATTENTION TO INVASION PERIL
THE UNITY AND determination of the British people to stand firm and carry on and win the war, was the theme of a broadcast speech by Mr. Herbert Morrison, Minister of Home Security, last night.
Mr. Morrison was urging people to read and study carefully a leaflet just issued by his Ministry, informing them what to do in case of an invasion.
Invasion, Mr. Morrison said, was a vital subject, for though the blaze of war might leap from Europe to Africa or Asia, there could be no real Nazi victory un- 'less it was won herein apd around this island.
"Jam
7
have
mont and military chiefs made plans for the defence of Britain on the basis of complete confidence that you will not let them down.". He emphasised the necessity of carrying on the country's work to the utmost capacity, and conclud-
giving away, no soed with an exhortation to "stand crets," Mr., Morrison went on, firm, Carry on. Beat the invad- "if I tell you that your Govern- ler,"-Reuter.
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