ENEMY TREACHERY

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

ENEMY TREACHERY

WHITE FLAG HOISTED

ATTACK THEN LAUNCHED

INDIAN CASUALTIES

LONDON, May 17,

Further progress has 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. 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 80 men who had deserted from the enemy forces.

When Indian troops attacked entrenched Italians at Amba Alagi, the Blackshirts 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 slope 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 be described as stupendous.