Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1941. THE ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 186, 21 May 1941, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1941. THE ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN.

The surrender of the Duke of Aosta, Italian voceroy of Abyssinia and commander -in - chief of the army, with seven thousand troops, marks the beginning of the end of the campaign in North-east Africa. The continuing advance of the Imperial forces with their allies, despite the oncoming rains and the difficult nature of the country, finally pinned the Duke at Amba Alaga, so that, cut off from needed supplies of war material and from essential reinforcements, he was forced to submit to unconditional surrender. This, however, does not mean the entire elimination of Italian resistance, for there are still two points at which enemy forces are engaged. One is at Gondar, two hundred miles north-west of Addis Ababa, and the other in the lakes district, in the Jimma region, the same distance south-east of the capital. The strength of these forces cannot be stated, but it cannot be much, for it is estimated that, including those at Amba Alaga, the total, number of Italian prisoners is now 200,000. The view taken in London is that the Duke’s capitulation does not necessarily mean the end of the campaign. But the only hope of the Italians now is warfare on the lines of guerilla tactics, playing hide and seek among the mountains. In this they will be at a disadvantage against the Abyssinians, who are accustomed to such conditions. Still it must not be overlooked that until the issue is finally placed beyond doubt Britain will have to maintain troops there. Therefore it will be the object of the remaining Italians to prolong the struggle to the limit of their capacity in order that their partners in aggression may be relieved, as much as possible, of pressure that would interfere with their plans in North Africa and Syria. In the meantime, however, there is cause for much satisfaction that a considerable force has been overcome and for still greater satisfaction that the directing mind of the campaign has been removed.