ITALIAN PERIL IN EAST AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 198, 19 May 1941, Page 7

ITALIAN PERIL IN EAST AFRICA

Survey Of Situation ENEMY FACING TWO DANGERS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 18, 9.10 p.m.)

RUGBY, May 17

Explaining the situation in southern 'Abyssinia, an east African correspondent describes where, after the fall of Addis Ababa, General Gazzera, aged 62, Italy’s senior officer in East Africa, took com'mand. It is a vast, crude parallelogram with the diagonals 360 miles north-west to south-east and 180 miles north-east to south-west, and comprising Lechemti, Jimma and the central lakes. For a month the, Imperial troops have thrust inward from Addis Ababa to Abaiti, from Adama to Sciasciamanna, from Yavello and Neghelli to Uondo, from Lake Rudolf to Maji and from Gambela toward Lechemti.

The annihilation of General Gazzera’s forces is inevitable. They arc surrounded. Their morale is<*low, they desert numerously after a bombing raid and are .responsive to proEthiopian advocacy. Often they are unpaid, unfed, and poorly equipped. In all areas the patriot forces are increasing. But in this mountainous country, whose features rise to 14,000 feet, progress is difficult. One of the most important developments is at the south-east corner of the parallelogram. The attack from Yavello and Eneghelii has proceeded in terrible lighting country. Here the troops are opposed by Italian forces who, thanks to competent officers, have put up a more determined resistance than at Dessie. Though the British losses have not been severe they have been rather more than normal. The capture of Alge after prolonged actions ou May 10 represents a great military performance. The enemy is holding Gabasire and Adola on these two roads. Meanwhile, the King’s African Rifles has pressed on from Adma, assisted bv patriots but frequently impeded by the effect of the rains. One column, driving south from the lakes, captured a file moving across the Gidu River to Bubisha, west of Lake Sciala. Without attempting to predict the future, it is obvious that the Italians face two dangers. In certain circumstances the enemy at Lechmeti would find it difficult to retire to Jimma. The fall of Sciascamanna imperils the line of retreat of the strong Italian forces now resisting at Gabasire and Adola. Thus the weak points are in the north-west ami especially in the south-east corners of this over-stretch-ed parallelogram. The final act of the Abyssinian campaign will possibly be staged in a great circle round .Jimma.

ENEMY SURROUNDED AT AMBA ALAGI

Abyssinian Campaign

(Received May 18, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 17.

Further progress has again been made by the Indian troops from the north and by the South African troops advancing from the south against the Italian forces holding Amba Alagi, in Abyssinia. The latter are now practically surrounded, says a Cairo communique.

“In the southern areas," the communique adds, “we occupied Giabissire. .12 miles north of Alge. In other sectors our advance is continuing. “In north-east Italian Somaliland our troops occupied the important Italian port of Dante." British troops have arrived at Adola, 50 miles north of Neghelli, where they found SO men who had deserted from the enemy forces. When Indian troops attacked entrenched Italians tit Amba Alagi. the Black Shirts hoisted the white flag, and then hurled hand grenades at the Indians, says the Addis Ababa correspondent of "The Times." A company of Indians, moving up the slopes of Mount Alagi, opened devastating machine-gun fire on the enemy entrenchments, but when the white flag appeared the Indians ceased fire and moved forward. They were within 30 yards when the Italians stood up and showered hand grenades upon the attackers. They then leapt out of the trenches in a counter-attack. The Indians withdrew from this difficult situation but suffered casualties. The fighting which is occurring in the mountains can only bo described as stupendous. An Italian communique says that the Italians at Amba Alagi are being attacked hourly from all sides and are under constant fire from artillery and planes.

NORWEGIAN PEOPLE National Anniversary 'British Ollielid Wireless.i (Received May IS, 7 p.m.' RUGBY, -May 17. The following letter has been addressed by Mr. 'Churchill to the Norwegian Prime Minister: "I write to scud you my greetings on the occasion o. the Norwegian national day and the l'_'7tli anniversary of the Norwegian constitution. ’.rids constitution enshrines the cardinal principles of national independence, individual liberty and the rule of law. for which the British Commonwealth. Norway and t eur allies are lighting today. “Though for your countrymen, with Norway suffering under wicked Nazi domination, their national day must tin’s year be one of sorrow rather than rejoicing, their spirit 1 know is unbroken. They share witli us and the people of the United States the resolve that the law of freedom and selfgovernment shall not perish from the earth. I look forward to happier days to come, when Norwegians and other peoples now under German oppression can celebrate such days in peace ami prosperity." King Haakon of Norway received the following message from the First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. Alexander : “On the anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution, 1 desire on behalf of the Admiralty and the Royal Navy to express to Your Majesty our admiration of the gallant light being waged by the Royal Norwegian Navy in Hie battle which will lead to the final de feat of our common enemy." BRITISH MEAT RATION ! i Received May 18, 7 p.m. i il'.rttisli official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 17. ; I'lie Ministry of Food Ims annoiim-eil : that till further notice the weekly meat 1 ration in Britain "ill remain at I 1 north for adults and ltd. for children under six