VAST PARALLELOGRAM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 116, 19 May 1941, Page 7

VAST PARALLELOGRAM

ENEMY TERRITORY

ANNIHILATION OF FORCES

INEVITABLE

RUGBY, May 17

Explaining the situation in southern Abyssinia, a correspondent in East Africa, describes where, after the fall of Addis Ababa, General Gazzera. aged 62. Italy's senior officer in East Africa, took command. It is a vast, crude parallelogram with the diagonals measuring 360 miles north-west to southeast and 180 miles from north-east to south-west, and comprising Lechemti, Jimma, and the central lakes.

For a month ithe Imperial troops have thrust inwards from Addis Ababa to Abalti, from Adama to Sciasciamanna, from Yavello and Neghelli to Uondo, from Lake Rudolf to Maji, and from Gambela towards Lechemti.

The annihilation of General Gaz-

zera's forces is inevitable. They are surrounded. Their morale is low. they desert numerously after a bomb-

ing raid, and they are responsive to

pro-Ethiopian 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-eastern corner of the parallelogram. The attack from Yavello and Neghelli has proceeded in terrible fighting 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 on May 10 represents a great military performance.

Without attempting to predict the future, it is obvious that the Italians face two dangers. In certain circumstances the enemy at Lechemti would find it difficult to retire to Jimma. The fall of Sciasciamanna imperils the line of retreat of the strong Italian forces now resisting at Gabasire and Adola. Thus the weak points are m the north-western and especially the south-eastern corners of this overstretched parallelogram. The final act of the Abyssinian campaign will possibly be staged in a great circle round Jimma.—B.O.W.