MILITARY HISTORY MADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 9

MILITARY HISTORY MADE

BRITISH CAMPAIGN

TRIBUTE TO DUKE OF AOSTA

RUGBY, May 20.

Commenting "on the surrender at Amba Alagi, the "Daily Telegraph" says: "The campaign is likely to stand out as one of the finest feats in our military history. There have been no sudden swift successes, .and the British forces engaged have had to fight hard to win. Every position was gained in mountainous country which offered every natural advantage for the defence.

"The forces were opposed by the one Italian general who has measured up to the boasting of the Italian dictator.

The Duke of Aosta has proved himself: an able soldier, with a high capacity for leadership.

"When steps have been taken to give the remaining defenders at Jimma and Gondar the news of the collapse at Amba Alagi the moral effect is likely to be decisive in bringing the Abyssinian operations to an end.

"The campaign has proved the sterling military quality of the British forces from two far-separated and dissimilar regions of the Empire. The South Africans and the Indians have covered themselves with glory."

The "Daily Mail" says: "The Italians have now had more than 400,000 men put out of action in the two1 campaigns in Libya and Abyssinia. In our drive to Benghazi 200,000 of the Duce's soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured—most_of them Italians. Mussolini had another 300,000 men in Abyssinia, abotit 100,000 of them Italians, and in 94 days of fighting we have put out of action more than 200,000 of them, including almost all the Italians. Most of the native troops who were not casualties or prisoner* have deserted."—B.O.W.