WAY NOW CLEAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 24 November 1941, Page 5

WAY NOW CLEAR

ASSAULT ON GONDAR STRONGPOINTS CAPTURED PRISONERS EXCEED 1800 (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9.30 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. Further progress toward the capture of the last remaining Italian stronghold in Abyssinia at Gondar is reported in a joint communique issued by the East African Command and Air Headquarters at Nairobi. The communique states: “Strong enemy positions at Xulkaber and Ferroaber, east of Lake Tsana, were heavily attacked on Friday and the Italians surrendered at 3 p.m. Our ground attacks were greatly assisted by the heavy raids of both the South African Air Foroe and Royal Air Force on enemy positions on Thursday and by successful air support on Friday. The capture of Kulkaber, on the road to Gondar, leaves the way open for an attack on the main defences, 10 miles south of the city. East African troops, together wijth Patriots, attacked at dawn over precipitous country towards the summit of Kulkaber, where the enemy was in a strong position honeycombed with trenches and well defended by machine-guns and artillery. Our attacking force, after heavy fighting, reached its first objective, but was compelled by the enemy shelling to withdraw. Later the column was reformed and captured the position. All troops behaved magnificently, the Patriots showing great courage in hand-to-hand fighting. Our attack was effectively supported by artillery, and towards 3 p.m. many white flags appeared on the hills to show that all was over.

“The prisoners numbered 800 Italians and 1000 natives, and included Colonel Ugolini, commanding the garrison. The casualties are not yet known, but the numbers were certainly heavy, Colonel Ugolini stating that many of his men were killed in intensive air attacks on Friday. On the northern sector our forces, advancing down the Omager-Gondar road, completely surrounded the Italian garrison at Cirda, while in other sectors our troops continue to harass the enemy.”