Exchange of Somalilands

Admiral Sir Andrew Browne Cunningham, who, as the British Royal Navy's Commander in Chief in the Mediterranean, has earned more fame in World War II than any other Admiral, has a peacetime rival in his younger brother, Alan Gordon Cunningham. Sir Andrew and Alan vie in growing the best flowers on their Hampshire estate, in catching the biggest fish, in telling the tallest tales. They even have rival dogs--Sir Andrew a Scotty, Alan an Airedale. Last week the younger Cunningham turned up as a rival in the honors of war as well: as Lieut. General Cunningham, commander of the spectacular British assault which last week resulted in the capture of Mogadiscio, capital of Italian Somaliland.

When the attack began, Lieut. General Cunningham sent his troops this message: "Hit them. Hit them hard, and hit them again." They did, and did again. It took them two months to force a crossing of the crucial Juba River, 100 miles from British Kenya; then it took them only two days to dash 200 miles more from the Juba to Mogadiscio. In the exploit they claimed more than 9,000 captives. Having lost British Somaliland (68,000 square miles) last August, and now having virtually won. Italian Somaliland (194,000 square miles), the British were, as ever, pleased but not given to overstatement. Comment of British military spokesman in Cairo: "Quite a nice exchange; we now have a Somaliland that is slightly better than our old one."

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