IMPORTANT EVENTS

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

IMPORTANT EVENTS

SURRENDER OF AMBA ALAGA, FINE WORK OF INDIAN TROOPS. WARM TRIBUTE BY CHURCHILL.

'United Press Association—Copyright.I (Ree. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. . Mr Churchill told the House of Commons that since members last met several important events had happened. In the first place the victory at Amba Alaga had resulted in the-surrender--of--the Duke of Aosta and his full remaining force.

“This must he 1 considered as bringing all major organised resistance in Abyssinia to an end,” said the Prime Minister. “No doubt further fighting will continue for some time in tlie south hut this certainly marks tlie culmination of a campaign which, I venture to think, is one of the most remarkable ever fought by British arms. It reflects credit on Generals Cunningham, and. Platt, who discharged so well the task, assigned to them by General Sir Archibald Wavell. v :

“I take this opportunity of pointing out the good work done by tho South African Army, a. strong force raised in Cape Colony and in the Union of South Africa. They were ordered by General Smuts to go forward and now this theatre of war is closing down they are moving northwards to the Mediter-i ranean. . , .

“Also two British and Indian divisions won laurels at Kassala and all tlie way from Kassala to Keren and up tortile final event. These Indian divisions consisted of six Indian battalions and three British battalions. I am assured that the greatest admiration is felt for the extraordinary military qualities displayed by .these Indian troops and that their ardour and.chduranee of all hardships have won them the re-, gard. of their British comrades. Sometimes we found several cases where no British officer remained and 1 yet the battalion conducted itself in the most effective maimer. Altogether this episode is one which reflects very great honour upon the soldiers of India of all castes and creeds engaged. I feel I could not refer to this matter without bringing it in a direct and emphasised manner to the attention of the House.” The Operations ipi Libya. Mr Churchill, speaking of the operations in Libya, said : “The second event which occurred since we were last here is the well-sustained action at Solium, This is of interest because it was fought exclusively between British and German troops. It has not, I suppose, been found worth while to maintain Italian troops at the end of such a long, precarious line of communication. The fighting was severe, hut not on a very largo scale. Several of our motorised brigades, supportedby armoured brigades and strong artillery, advanced about 30 miles from the position where they had been' deployed for some weeks past and attacked the enemy, taking Solium, Halfaya Pass and Fort Capuzzo. “The armoured troops had got well round tlie flank and were very well situated about 1 o’clock last Saturday, but the Germans launched a resolute counter-attack with about 40 tanks and recaptured Capuzzo. That entailed the withdrawal of an armoured brigade from the advantageous position which it had attained. The operations, therefore, were indecisive, hut the Germans claim 100 British prisoners. We have 500 Germans in our hands and the losses in tanks and personnel are certainly heavy, if not heavier, on thei? side than on ours. A

“This operation must be regarded on the background that for more than six weeks the Germans have been proclaiming that they will shortly be in Suez, and have been making much credit with the neutral world by spreading statements of this kind. It is therefore satisfactory for us to say that we have retained strong offensive power and that fighting is being maintained at any rate on even terms in the advance areas of the approaches to Egypt.— British Official Wireless. Mr Churchill added that the latest messages stated that there was continuous reconnaissance, accompanied hy sporadic machine-gunning, chiefly against the anti-aircraft defences. Horaclion aerodrome had been bombed, but there had been no landing so far.