LEADER GIVES IN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 7

LEADER GIVES IN

AMBA ALAGI AREA British Close in On Remnants Of Italian Troops British Official Wireless. Rec. noon. RUGBY, May 21. In Abyssinia the Duke of Aosta, accompanied by five generals and a number of senior staff officers, formally surrendered yesterday following the handing over of all equipment in the Amba Alagi area, says a Cairo headquarters communique. The total prisoners taken during and since the battle in this area amounts to between 18.000 and 19,000. In the battle of the lakes, south of Addis Ababa, which is now proceeding Imperial troops are rapidly closing in on the enemy force, consisting of the remnants of two divisions. Yesterday forward Empire troops advancing from the south, after a sharp engagement with the enemy rearguard, captured an Italian brigadier and a number of prisoners. In the north-east corner of Somaliland some hundreds of Italians, who had taken refuge in a town, have been captured. An earlier cable message reported that the surrender of the Italian garrison at Amba Alagi was continuing according to schedule. There were believed to be not more than four Italian divisions holding out in Abyssinia in the Gondar and Jimma districts. Three hundred Italians have been taken prisoner in the Gondar area. In the Jimma district heavy rain is holding up operations. Great optimism is expressed in military circles in East Africa, says a Nairobi cable, following the victory at Amba Alagi, which enables the junction of the South Africans from the south and the Indians in the north. Italy's remaining strength east of the central lakes is largely collapsing. Developments in this district are as important as any in winding up the campaign, for the failure of the Italians east of Margherita will unite the Gold Coasters from Neghelli and Yavello with the Kings African Rifles from Adama. The capture of Schiaschiamanna has been followed, as expected, by the withdrawal of the enemy from Adola and Cabrashire, but operations on a large scale continue in this area. British troops are now in touch with the enemy 45 miles north of Soddu. in the Jimma area.