ITALIAN SURRENDER

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1941, Page 5

ITALIAN SURRENDER

AMBA ALAGA Military Honours for Garrison [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, May 19. A Cairo communique states: After allowing Italian forces in Amba Alaga one full day in which to collect the wounded, the formal surrender of the whole forces in the area is taking place to-day. It is estimated that the prisoners will number seven thousand, together with considerable quantities of guns and material. It had further been arranged in compliance with his urgent request,, that he should be the last to leave, that the Duke of Aosta, accompanied by General Trezzani, and all the Duke’s personal staff officers will surrender at noon to-morrow. LONDON. May 19. It is authoritatively stated that the Duke of Aosta accepted the terms of surrender. The British forces are due to take over Amba Alaga an d the garrison to-day. Later it was announced that a Rome communique admitted the surrender of Amba Alaga, and that the Duke of Aosta was taken prisoner. The British accorded the garrison full military honours. • The Duke of Aosta, was th e Italian Commander-in-Chief in East Africa.

Troops which were captured at Amba Alaga include Savoy Grenadiers, and batteries of artillery. Great importance is attached to the capture of Amba Alaga, not only because it was very heavily defended, but because of its strategical position lying across the lines of communication. Much interest attaches to the effect of the surrender on the small forces of Italians still resisting elsewhere. The situation has undergone a swift change in recent weeks. The Duke tried to hold the high ground, hoping that heavy rains would bog the British in the low land, but the brilliant, operations which have since occurred necessitated rapid changes of plan by the enemy, and it is understood the Duke split his forces into three parts, which probably have since been operating under independent commands, the Duke re ’ taining the most important of them. If the surrender of Amba Alaga is followed by the very quick collapse of other enemy forces, it would cause little surprise in London. These two forces are in the neighbourhood of Gondar, westward of Amba Alaga, and Jimma, south-west of Addis Ababa. A month ago, it was reliably estimated that there were twentytwo thousand enemy troops at Jimma, but to what extent this number has been reduced by desertions, casualties and capture of prisoners, is not definitely known. In Gondar, which is practically sur, rounded, there arc probably about eight thousand Italians and a few thousand native troops. ;

Units of the Sudan Defence Force, assisted by Patriots, captured an important position in the Gondar sector, inflicting serious damage on the enemy. The operations are proceeding satisfactorily. In the southern areas, our troops captured Dalle, an important road junction 35 miles south of Sciasciamanna. As the result of this successful operation, we captured .800 prisoners, including two colonels, a number of staff officers, two guns, and two armoured cars. In other sectors our genera] advance is continuing desp.te heavy rain.

A R.A.F. report states: In Abyssinia, our aircraft continued to assist our troops in mopping up operations. Attacks were made mainly on enemy motor transports, retreating along roads.

END OF CAMPAIGN?

The Duke’s Surrender BRITISH STAFF OFFICER’S OPINION. (Received May 20, 6.30 p.m.). RUGBY, May 19. The importance of the capture of the Duke of Aosta and of all Italian forces in the Amba Alaga area, is stressed by a British -Staff Officer. He says: ‘This is indeed a bitter pill for Italy to swallow. It was impossible for the Germans to send any direct help to their partners in Abyssinia. The Italian radio made no secret of desperate- messages having been sent from Rome urging the Duke of Aosta to hold out at all costs so as to pin down the British forces opposing him. But all his efforts failed, and now we shall be in

a position to redistribute our forces - fighting in Italian East Africa. The Duke’s task must have been a disheartening one. Since 1 January 19 last, when we re-took Kassala, the Italian troops in East Africa have been defeated and driven out on all sides, losing enormous quantities of men and of material. The object of the campaign was the conquest of a vast country, mountainous and undeveloped, subject to extremes of heat and tropical rainfalls, and defended by a large well-equipped Ital’an Army. There have been twodistinct phases in the East African war. The first was our strategic

withdrawal in the face of vastly superior numbers, which gave the Kalians temporary possession of Bri-

tish Somaliland. Then came a second phase, w’th slow steady pressure at many points of a long front, coordinated with lightning converging advances along main roads into -the hear', of the enemy’s country The Duke of Aosta was forced to evacuate Addis Ababa. He split the

Abyssinian garrison into three parts. One was to go south-west to the Jimma P’atcau, the second largest centre of Italian colonisation. One was to go south-east to jo’n the Neghelli forces, and hold the difficult Arussi Hills, which the Abys-’nians had used as the centre of --esistance in the 1935 campaign; while the third was to go north-east to Dessye. towards the retreating survivors of the Eritrean Armv, who held mountainous countrv at Amba Alnga. and possibly to reinforce the beleagured garrison at Gondar. In Jimma, Bondar and Dessye, stores and ammunition had been accumulated to enable those forces to continue their

Mfcjfehcp, bitt 'that plfan was afso wrecked by our relentless pursuit of alb retreating forces. The capture of Amb<g Alaga virtually means the end of the East African Campaign. The surrender of the Duke of Aosta will be a severe blow to the morale of the remaining troops. While in other areas resistance may yet continue, the fight tends to take on more and more the character of guerilla warfare. The Italians boasted that their conquest of Abyssinia had been a marvel .of speed. Yet it took thorn seven months to reach Addis Ababa; a distance of 425 miles, when they were opposed by ill-equipped native levies. As against that, General Cunningham’s column covered 1150 miles from the south to Addis Ababa in fifty days, opposed by Italy’s best forces, fully trained and equipped with modern weapons.”

Italian Resistance CONTINUES IN TWO SECTORS. THEIR SURRENDER NOT CERTAIN. (Received May 20, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. According to military circles, it is too early to say whether the surrender of the Duke of Aosta means the end of the Abyssinian campaign. There remain about two Italian Divisions still concentrated in the Jimma area. There are also two Italian Divisions in the Gondar area. These Divisions, with the help of rains, may hold out until the end of the rainy season. On the other hand, when they receive the news of the Duke of Aosta’s surrender, they may decide to do likewise. A military spokesman emphasised the importance of the capture of a road junction at Dalle. This cuts off the only reasonable chance of escape for the two Italian Divisions in the Jimma district. They can now only take to the bush. He says the Italians have a particular aversion to the bush, because of Abyssinian patriots lurking there.

Duke’s Message to II Duce

DONE ALL POSSIBLE.

“WE SHALL RETURN.”

fAus. Sr N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Received May 20, 7.40 p.m.)

LONDON, May 20.

The Duke of Aosta’s last message from Amba Alagi to Signor Mussolini, said: “Faced with the impossibility of accommodating and caring for the many wounded, and owing to the continual deterioration of the situation, which only permitted of brief resistance with very heavy losses, I have been led to ask the enemy for an honourable surrender. My request has been granted. This is a sad moment, but I am comforted by the conviction that I have done everything humanly possible. I relinquish my command, and thank you, Il Duce, for having during the years of a hard struggle, always accorded me your support and confidence. The war is not over! We shall soon return to this soil once more, drenched as it is with Italian blood, for our country’s glory.’’

Mussolini’s Tribute

TO DUKE AND FORCES.

(Received May 20, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 20.

Signor Mussolini, in his reply to the Duke c.f Aosta’s message, cabled earlier to-riight, said: “You and your soldiers have fought heroically, and have resisted beyond all limits. The Italian people have watched and have admired you, and they share your faith for the future."