London, Feb. 26. AFTER a record-breaking advance from the Juba River, Imperial troops have captured Mogadishu, capital and chief port in Italian Somaliland.
This victory, announced in an official communique issued in Nairobi today, is the British troops' response to the inspiring message sent them on the eve of the Jubaland operations by Licut,- Gen. A, G. Cunninghan, General Officer Commanding Italian-Somaliland Fronts—"hit them, hit them hard, and hit them again."
The capture of Mogadishu means that the British Force have advanced 100 miles since Monday when the coastal town of Brava was captured.
'Mogadishu was the principal Italian base for their forces coming from Somaliland during the Italian campaign against Abyssinia, 'Although' Mogadishu is the most the fact that in the recent period of important port in Italian Somaliland it four weeks 750,000 pamphlets have ig-not a good one. The Italians been distributed in "Abyssinia and intended to improve it but work Eritrea. The Italians have abandon-was never staried. ed the threat to shoot men found Details given in London today show carrying British pamphlets asim. that in Eritrea a British column com~ practicable and have instituted ing from the north which was last periodical "search parades." A whole heard of at Gubgub is advancing farther south and is now some so miles from Keren, Farther south British forces are moving from Barentu towards Areza fu the road north of Asmada. A rapid advance in this area is not expected. not only on account of topographical difficulties but because the retreating Nallans ere moking full use of land In Libya the British forces have not yot attacked Jarabu where the Mallans continue to congratulate themselves on their fine defence, Moyale, Brava Captured West African troops on Monday captured Brava, which is a port 160 miles north of Kismayu (Italian So-maitland)." says an official communtque received here from "Cleaning-up operations are continuing in the Gelib area (on the Juba River), where on Monday our South African troops rounded up part of the enemy who had been stranded tu, the- bush, "On the northern sector, a com: pony of Abyssinian irregulars have captured Moyale and South Afr troops have now taken over this By the capture of Moyale, which lost by us in July, 1940, the last Utellan troops have from British territor} que from Nairobi adds.—Reuter, Gelib Captured Nairobi. Feb. 20.
'A South African formation captured Gell after having crossed the Juba river near its mouth and made an exceedingly rapid march for 60 miles along the river, clearing enemy opposition all the way; says an official communique, Here, East African formations, having crossed bridgeheads seized by 4 Gold Coast regiment. carried out night march through desert country and cut the only road communication between Gelib and Brava, Thus preventing escape of the main body, a Gold Const brigade, which had borne the brunt of early fighting across the Juba River, completed the operation and cut off all avenues of eseap2 to the north, 'A. conservative estimate of the number of prisoners. Is 3.000, while thy addition many who escaped to the: bush are now returning und surrendering.
An aeroplane reported that the enemy retreating along the beach 30 miles from the Juba River waved 15 Indicating their desire to Large quantities of ammunition were captured, The South African air force ce-operated in the capture of Gelib, machine gunning an enemy transport which was trying to escape. A bombard ment of enemy positions and dumps farther along the coast was success fully carried out by the navy, the communique coritludes~-Reater.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.