MASSAWA'S FALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 81, 5 April 1941, Page 9

MASSAWA'S FALL.

EXPECTED HOURLY. British Leaders Demand Its Surrender. United Tress Association.—Copyright. (Reed, noon.) LONDON, April 4. The surrender of Massawa has beeti demanded, reports a special correspondent in Eritrea. The reply is expected to-day. A British officer, carrying a while flap, was sent to Massawa to point out that the British must have the port in order to feed the civilians in Asmara. Although the capture of Massawa. on the Red Sea coast, lias nut been actually announced, says British Official Wireless, the hurried departure of Italian destroyers and their subsequent destruction is ~»rtainly significant. Briti.-h forces are advancing down two roads from Asmara to Adowa. The advance from Harar by way of Miesso towards Addi-i Ababa continues. As expected, n stand of the Italian!! at Mie«so does not seem to have taken place. The position of the Italians in East Africa must be regarded as very unhappy, as there is no question that the native troops are deserting in increasing number*, and the example of the rioting at Diredawa shows the grave dangers that the Italian population is likely to have to face.

A communique issued from the Ti.A.F. Headquarters. Middle Iva, state?: '"In Abyssinia. in support of army operations. R.A.K. bombers attacked concentrations of enemy transports on tlie Assali-De.-sie road with bombs and machine-pun fire. An enemy encampment on the Adowa-Gondar road and a bridge over the Takkazi River were also bombed.'' A Cairo communique says: "Concentration in Libya of our advanced elements is continuing. Over .1000 prisoners have already been counted at Asmara, and many more are still coining in from enemy troops who have been over-run bv our rapid advance eastwards toward* Massawa and southward alonpr the main road towards Dessve. "Extensive demolitions along the road to Massawa have now temporarily delayed our advance in this sector. Elsewhere operations continue to develop successfully. In Abyssinia our advance in all sectors is proceeding satisfactorily."'