WILLING CAPTIVES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 279, 25 November 1941, Page 5

WILLING CAPTIVES

ITALIAN FEARS ABYSSINIAN REVENGE j l The following interview in the Natal Mercury of October 10, has interest, apart from the information it contains, in the fact that the Major L,. M. Harris, D.5.0., of the Natal Mounted Rifles, who gave the interview, is a son of two former [residents of Otago—Mr. L. M. j Harris, well known in Dunedin [cricket many years ago. and Mrs. Harris, who was formerly Miss Hannah Russell, daughter of Cap'tain Russell, who lived at Ravens-

bourne. Mr. and Mrs. Harris left for South Africa shortly after their marriage and live in Natal. One of the main responsibilities facing the South Africans during the Abyssinian campaign was the protection of Italian prisoners from revengeful patriots, said Major I Harris. In some cases it was necessary to arm prisoners.

The Italians were only too glad, to hand themselves over, and were; no trouble to guard. Few men, could be spared for guard duty, and, in one particular case a vehicle in convoy driven by a prisoner had, fallen out, and in order to make! sure that he was on the right road! Ito the port of shipment the driver called at a village to inquire the | way. I ; Major Harris came across no ease of prisoners attempting to escape.! I The colonial infantry. Somalis and, Eritreans, were good natural sol-j diers. and put up a good fight, but the Italians disliked meeting thej South Africans at close quarters, and were pleased to be able to give in. There was no doubt, however, of the excellent development work | carried out by the Italians in Abyssinia. Tremendous sums of monev :had been spent on roads and in i .agricultural development. Sugarj .and cotton plantations had been started. Abyssinia was a lovely countrv, ■the lake district and the large fo'riests being particularly beautiful. ;The rainfall was good, and the onlv restriction to the development of farming was the risk the Italians ran in outlying districts of being attacked by Abyssinians. i Major Harris said that he had [been in Egypt since June. The South Africans at Mersa Matruh had ;done a lot of digging in and desert ■exercises to accustom themselves to !the desert type of warfare. They were ready for any eventuality. The "desert" had been very much more pleasant than he had anticipated, said Major Harris. The surface was hard, and it was possible to go off a road and drive for miles in any direction. Dust storms were I the main unpleasantness. The iSouth Africans were in easv reach ; of supplies, and the food, clothing and equipment were good. Major Harris received his D.S.O ias a result of leading his battalion iin a most successful attack on the [defended position of the Dadaba 'River on May 13.