Die Welt Am Sonntag, Sunday, 30 October 1949
The drums of war sound ever louder in the Horn of Africa. Waddaniyin rebels in Danish Somaliland attempted to seize the city of Hargeisa, but were beaten off Danish méharistes (
top, left) assisted by a mobile column from the French garrison at Djibouti under the command of
Capitaine Christophe Diamond of the
Legion etranger (
top, right). Though the joint operation was successful – more than two hundred casualties were inflicted upon the rebels and an equal number of prisoners taken – it was not without cost (
centre, left). French casualties included two dead and twenty nine wounded. The Danish authorities have not released precise figures for their own casualties.
In the nearby East African State the Arbegnoch freedom fighters continue their struggle against the Italian puppet government of Haile Selassie. Rumours persist of Europeans fighting alongside the Arbegnoch (
centre, right), but these have not been confirmed. Nevertheless, the patriot forces continue to enjoy success in small-scale battles, using more conventional tactics and weaponry captured from the Italians and their native auxiliaries (
bottom, left). Across the Bab-el-Mandeb in Yemen, demonstrations and unrest continue in the wake of the rising of Imam Ibrahim bin Yahya (
bottom, right). For the moment the local authorities have established order but it is uncertain how long peace will prevail.
Kieler Nachrichten, Monday, 31 October 1949
The air defence cruisers
Szina and
Temesvar have completed their operational training and are expected to soon join the
Atlantikflotte.