DUKE’S SURRENDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 186, 21 May 1941, Page 5

DUKE’S SURRENDER

THE EFFECT IN ABYSSINIA.

MILITARY MAN'S COMMENT.

OBJECT OF THE CAMPAIGN.

(United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 20.

The Italian garrison at Ainba Alaga, consisting of about 7000 troops, is believed to be already in British hands, and the Duke of Aosta, Viceroy of Abyssinia and Commander-in-Chief in Elast Africa, is to surrender himself at noon to-day.

According to military circles in Cairo, it is too early to say whether the surrender of the Duke of Aosta means the end of the Abyssinian campaign. \

About two Italian divisions are concentrated in the Jimma area, southwest of Addis Ababa, and two are at Gondar, west of Amba Alaga. These, with the help of the rains, may hold out until the end of the rainy season, but on the other hand when they receive news of the Duke of Aosta’s surrender they may decide to do likewise.

The capture of Dalle, an important road junction 35' miles south of Sciasciamanna, lias cut off the Italians in the Jimma area from their only reasonable chance of escape. They can now only take to the bush. The Italians, however, have a particular aversion to the bush,- because of patriots lurking there.

The importance of the capture of the Duke of Aosta and all his forces In the Amba Alaga area is omphasised by a staff officer, who says: “This is indeed a bitter pill for Italy to swallow. The Italian radio has made no secret of the desperate messages sent from Rome urging the Duke of Aosta to hold out at all costs so as to pm down the British forces opposing him. But all his efforts have failed, and now we shall be in a position to redistribute our forces fighting in Italian East Africa.

“The Duke of Aosta’s task must have been a disheartening one. Since January 19, when we retook Kassala, the Italian troops in East Africa have" been defeated and driven out on all sides, losing enormous quantities of men and material. Phases of Campaiferr. “The object of the campaign was the conquest of a vast country, mountainous and undeveloped, subject to extremes of heat and tropical rainfalls, and defended by a large and wellequipped Italian army. There have been two distinct phases in tlie East African war. The first was our strategic withdrawal in the face of vastly superior numbers, which gave the Italians temporary possession of British Somaliland. Then came the second phase—slow and steady pressure on many points of a long front, coordinated with lightning converging advances, along main roads into the heart of the enemy’s country. “The Duke of Aosta, was forced to evacuate Addis Ababa and split his Abyssinian garrison into three parts. One was to go south-west to the Jimma plateau, the second largest centre of Italian colonisation. One was to go south-east to join the Neghelli forces and hold tho difficult Arussi hills, which the Abyssinians used as a centre of resistance in the 1935 campaign, while tho third was to go north-east to Dessic, towards tho retreating survivors of the Eritrean army who held the mountainous country at. Amba Alaga, and possibly to reinforce the beleaguered garrison at Gondar. “In Jimma, Gondar, and Dessic stores and ammunition had been accumulated to enable these forces to continue their defence, hut that plan was also wrecked by our relentless pursuit of all tho retreating forces. “The capture of Amba Alaga virtually means the end of the East African campaign, and the surrender of the Duke lef Aosta will be a severe blow to the morale of the remaining troops. While in other areas resistance may yet continue, the fight tends to take on more and more the character of guerilla warfare. “The Italians boasted that their conquest of Abyssinia had been a marvel of speed. Yet. it took them seven months to reach Addis Ababa, .a. distance of 425 miles, when they were opposed by ill-equipped native levies. As against that, General Cunningham’s column covered 1150 miles from the south to Addis Ababa in 50 days, opposed by Italy’s best forces, fully trained and .equipped with modern weapons.” Forces for Iraq, “The Times,” anticipating that the surrender of the forces at Amba Alaga will mean the end of the campaign, says that the consequent release of seasoned Imperial forces will he tho most important outcome. “The Times” emphasises that Iraq will he the chief new commitment, hut finds grounds for ' confidence in tho fact that the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm have already taken strong action, both, in Iraq and Syria. “Germany will doubtless attempt,” says the newspaper, “to make all possible use of such portions of the Iraqi Army as adhere to the cause of Rashid Ali, but even with the aid of her bombers it is to be doubted whether these troops, who have not the slightest interest in the conflict forced upon them, will prove of much value to her.” “The Times” contrasts the difficulties attending the transport of German troops with Britain’s ability to reinforce through the Persian 'Gulf, and adds: “If wfe can dispose of enough warships to make the Levant too dangerous for the enemy, enough aircraft to deny him free communication across Syria, and enough equipment to enable us to use our troops to the best possible advantage in Iraq, it will notlie a matter of great difficulty to keep tho Germans out.”

The Duke of Aosta’s last message from Amba Alaga to Signor Mussolini said: “Faced with the impossibility of accommodating and caring for the many’ wounded, and because of the continual deterioration in the situation, which has only permitted a brief resistance, with very heavy losses, . 1 have been led! to ask the enemy for an honourable surrender. My request has been granted. “This is n> sad moment, but I am comforted by the conviction that I have done everything humanly possible. I relinquish my command and thank you, 11 Daice, for having, during years of hard struggle, always ac-

corded me vour support and confidence. “The war is not over. We shall soon return to this soil, once more drenched with Italian hlood for our country’s glory.”

Signor Mussolini, replying to tho Duke of Aosta’s message, said: “You and your soldiers have fought heroically and have resisted beyond all limits. The Italian people have watched and admired you, and share your faith for the future.” \ Units of the Sudan defence force, assisted hy patriots, have captured an important position in the Gondar sector, inflicting serious damage, on the enemy. The operations are proceeding satisfactorily.

As a result of the capture of Dalle, the British forces took 800 prisoners, including two colonels and a number of staff officers, two guns, and two - armoured cars. In other sectors the general advance is continuing in spito of heavy rain. In North Africa there is no. change in the Tobruk region. South of Solium two enemy’ columns with numerous tanks crossed the Egyptian frontier, but withdrew when engaged by forward British elements. German claims to have recaptured Solium are false, as British troops are still in the town.