HARD PRESSED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 141, 17 June 1941, Page 7

HARD PRESSED

ITALIANS SURRENDER

Last Stages Of Campaign In Abj-ssinia British Official Wire]<vs. Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, June Ift. During recent weeks Imperial forces in Southern Abyssinia have been driving against one of the two last Italian strongholds of resistance in that country, namely, the Jimma area. Columns, advancing southwards from Xegelli frnd Yavallo are all making for the crossroads at Soddu.

During the advance various phases of the battle of the lakes have taken place. The opposition in this area has consisted of four Italian colonial divisions, which have been virtuallv destroyed as fighting units owing to the casualties inflicted and through large-scale desertions. The drive has been continued against the Italian positions in Jimma and Bonga area without stopping to clean up the remnants of the Italian forces in the area between Soddu and Lake Abaya. There the remnants of the Italian 21th division, joined, perhaps, by small detachments from three other divisions, have been holding out under General Pralormo. It has been surrounded on the east and north by the Gold Coast Brigade and on the south and west by patriot troops.

The Imperial forces, having bicker objectives in view, have been taking no action against these Italians. Patriot troops, however, have been harrying them successfully. The measure of success achieved by the patriots is shown by the fact tha'. General Pralormo communicated with the Italian commander in Jimma area asking whether he would try to arrange for terms of surrender. He has now surrendered with 2000 Italian troops. Jim ma's Fall Awaited It is estimated that 20,000 Italians are still holding out at Jimma, but it is not expected that they will resist much longer. Operations continue slowly, but satisfactorily, hindered by heavy rain. Strong patriot forces are moving up with Imperial troops, who completely encircle the main remnants of the Italian Army at J imma. Besides Indian cavalry, eight regiments of the Indian Army are named by the War Office a- having taken part in recent operation- in East Africa, says a British ofLcud wireless message. They are tin* Punjab Regiment, the k-ikh Regiment. the Frontier Force J', zhr.ent. the Frontier Force Rifles, the Rajputana Rifles, the Royal f-arh.-va! Rifles, the Mah rat'a I. J:.!a-.*.ry and the Baiar-h R* r*. Colonial fortes v. r.'.-h t<» k part In , the panic , ampaigM are giy< n as tr.«* . Sudan Defcr.-.-e '• : < tr.e .s.i.iz • African I the (,■■ '■] Or. " - - v.hiie O- !'.* a:.*l j a.e.ur..\> ; fought j:i G recce.