In Abyssinia, Feb. 8.
The battle for Abyssinia is now under way. South African troops in large numbers have crossed the border from Kenya and captured a strong Italian post at Gorai crater, 20 miles inside Abyssinia, The Italians suffered considerable tosses both. in men and materials. At Toast 30 Italians were tilled and about the same number were wounded and 47 were taken prisoner.
This action was based on a battle carried out with superb generalship and great courage by troops who never previously had been in action Two forces penetrated into Abys-sinza simultaneously. The object of one was to capture and hold the for-tifted position of Elgumu—the junetion of the road from Gorai to Gan-chiao. The second force was to capture and hold the Gorai front.
Both tasks werd accomplished. by the same date. Hleumu was taken at four o'clock un the afternoon and engegemént 50 minutes.
Gorai an hour tater efter a sharp
Gorai was taken by: an inexperi-@nced unit containing some of South The advance of the southern column had proceeded as secretly as possible. It has been revealed now, however, that the Imperial Army split near Bomba, between Tobruk and Demo.
Some resistance was reported by this southern column from Mechile, 90 miles west of Tobruk, but afterwards, the Italians offered no serious opposition. Except for a few outposts which the British were mopping up, the whole of Cyrenaica appeared now to be in British hands.
"Brilliant operations by British armoured forces advancing south of Mebel, Evakbar, Jebeal and Ejakbar established them astride Italian comi leading south from the General Headquarters communique reported, Enemy "Demoralized"
"At the same time, Australian troops advancing from Demo gave the retreating enemy force no respite. Demoralized and out-manceuvres, the enemy was unable to put into effect plans for defence of Benghazi.
"In Eritrea," the communique said, "the situation about Keren (important railway station) is developing in a satisfactory manner. The total number of prisoners since our troops entered Eritrea already exceeds 3,500 and many more are coming in.
"In that area, east of Agordat and Barentu, the way is littered with Italian war materials, either destroyed by our action or jettisoned by the enemy.
"In Abyssinia, the advance along the Gendar road is progressing and prisoners also were taken in this sec-for.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.