MIDDLE EAST

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1941, Page 5

MIDDLE EAST

AMBA ALAGI SURRENDER TO BRITISH Duke of Aosta Accepts Terms IS GENERAL SURRENDER STIPULATED? i Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, May 18 An Italian communique states that the Italians at Amba Alaga are be' ing attacked hourly from all sides. They are under constant lire from artillery and aircraft. (Received May 19, 11.45 p.m.). CAIRO, May 19., A military spokesman stated: ‘The British have delivered terms to the Duke of Aosta, and the situation m Amba Alagi seems to be about liquidated.” The spokesman did not indicate the terms, tout they undoubtedly include the surrender of tiie Duke of Aosta himself; also his Commander-in-Chief, Genera! 1* rusci, and seven thousand Italians, who. m addition to an unspecified number ol colonial troops, constitute the remaining forces in this area. There probably is also a demand tor me surrender of the Italians’ only remaining forces in the Gondar and Jimma areas./ ~ LONDON, May 19.

The Italians have decided to surrender the town of Amba Alagi, in Abvssinia, as the result of a, mission by" the Italian Commander-in-Chiet, the Duke of Aosta, who has accepted the British terms. There are 7.000 enemy troops there, Italians and Colonials. It is not known whether the Duke of Aosta will be among the captives. The British forces are to enter Amba Alagi to-day. . At Cairo on Sunday, a British General Headquarters communique stated: We have surrounded Amba Alagi. The Duke of Aosta has sent emissaries to seek terms of surrender for the whole of the Italian forces in that area. The surrounding of Amba Alagi resulted from a series of brilliant operations by Indians and South Africans, closely supported by Royal Air Force ’planes. Our operations in Southern Abyssinia are continuing successfully.” THE TERMS. LONDON May 19. The terms of surrender allowed the Duke of Aosta were that the pass near the town be occupied by the British on Sunday, but that in Amba Alagi the Italians should be allowed one day in which to collect their wounded. The British occupation of the town itself was to begin on Monday at 6 a.m. Duke of Aosta BECOMES A CAPTIVE. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Received May 19, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. The terms of surrender of Amba Alagi provide that the Italian Com-mander-in-Chief and Viceroy, the Duke of Aosta, becomes a prisoner. He sent emissaries to ascertain the British terms, and then accepted them. DIFFICULT FIGHTING. (Received May 19, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, May IS. When Indian troops attacked entrenched Italians at Amba Alaga, Black Shirts hoisted a 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 slopes of Mount Alaga opened a devastating machine-gun fire on enemy entrenchments, when a white flag appeared. The Indians ceased , fire, moved up forward, and were within 30 yards when the Italians stood up and showered them with handgrenades and then leapt out oi the trenches in a counter-attack. The Indians withdrew from this difficult situation, but suffered casualties. The fighting occurring in the mountains can only be described as stupendous, the correspondent adds. Enemy Air Raids ON SUEZ AREA. LONDON, May 18. A Middle East R.A.F. report says: Enemy aircraft raided the Suez Canal area last night, but no damage or casualties resulted to service property or personnel. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft, guns, and another was shot down by our fighters. ON SUEZ CANAL AGAIN. (Received Mav 19, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. Enemy planes raided the Suez Canal area on the night of Saturday. They dropped explosive bombs and incendiaries. There were seven persons killed, and two children were injured. The damage was slight.