MAJOR CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 7

MAJOR CAMPAIGN

ENDED IN ABYSSINIA

CHURCHILL'S REVIEW

NAZIS FAIL IN LIBYA

(Rec. Noon.) LONDON, May 20. Mr. Winston Churchill told the '' House of Commons that since members last met several important events had happened. In the first place the victory of Amba Alagi had resulted in the surrender of the Duke of Aosta and his full remaining" force. This must be considered as bringing all major organised resistance in Abyssinia to an end. "No doubt further fighting would continue for some time in the south," he said, "but this certainly marks the culmination of the campaign, which I venture to think is one of the most remarkable ever fought by British arms. It reflects credit on Generals Cunningham and Piatt, who discharged so well I the task assigned them by General Wavell. "I take this opportunity of pointing out the good work done by the South African Army. A strong force was raised in Cape Colony and in the Union of South Africa. They were ordered by General Smuts to go forward and now this theatre of war is closing down. They are moving northwards to the Mediterranean. INDIANS WIN LAURELS. "Also two British Indian divisions have won laurels at Kassala and all the way from Kassala to Keren and up to the final event. These Indian divisions consisted of six Indian battalions and three British battalions. lam as-, sured that the greatest admiration is felt for the extraordinary military qualities displayed by these Indian troops, and that their ardour and endurance of all hardships has won them the regard of their British comrades. "Sometimes we found several cases where no British officer remained and yet the battalion conducted itself in the most effective manner. Altogether this episode is one which reflects very great honour upon the soldiers of India of all the casts and creeds engaged. I feel I could not refer to this matter without bringing it in a direct and emphatic, manner to the attention of the House. THE LIBYAN CAMPAIGN. Speaking of the Libyan operations, Mr. Churchill said: "The second event which occurred since we were last here is a well-sustained action at Solium. This is of interest because it was fought exclusively between Bri- ( tish and German troops. It has not, I suppose, been found worth while to maintain Italian troops at the end of such a long and precarious line of communication.

"The fighting was severe, but not on a very large scale. Several of our motorised brigades, supported by armoured brigades and strong artillery, advanced about thirty miles from the position where they had been deployed for some weeks past, and attacked the enemy, taking Solium, Halfaya Pass, and Fort Capuzzo.

"Our armoured troops had got well round the German flank and were very well situated at about one o'clock last Saturday, but the Germans launched a resolute ( counter-attack, with'about forty tanks/and recaptured Fort Capuzzo.

"That brought about the withdrawal of our armoured brigade from the advantageous position which it had attained. Operations therefore were indecisive, but the Germans claim 100 British prisoners. We have 500 Germans in our hands, and the losses of tanks and personnel certainly were as heavy, if not heavier, on their side than on ours.

"But this operation must be regarded against the background that for more than six weeks the Germans have been proclaiming that they will shortly be at Suez and have been making much credit with the neutral world by spreading statements of this kind. It is therefore satisfactory for us to say that we have retained strong offensive po^.ver. and that fighting is being maintained, at any rate on even terms, in the advanced areas of the approaches to Egypt."