CLOSING IN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 137, 12 May 1941, Page 7

CLOSING IN

BRITISH IN ABYSSINIA. MORE HEAVY FIGHTING. LONDON, May 11. In Abyssinia our advance from both north and south continues against Aruba Alagi, where the force of dO,OOO Italians are making their last stand. in heavy lighting aircraft of tho South African Air Force continue to support our troops and many prisoners have been rounded up. In Southern Abyssinia also our operations are continuing satisfactorily in every sector. A British Official Wireless message says a communique from British headquarters at Cairo slates our forces have captured prisoners and inflicted casualties on tho enemy in the advance on Amba Alagi. Our columns yesterday were only' 18 miles apart. In tho eastern Gojjatn area our troops killed 80 and wounded 200 of the enemy garrison retreating from Debra Marcos. In the south,’ alter heavy fighting spread over some days, the enemy lias been ejected from strongly-prepared positions, one of which was eight miles in depth. Our leading troops are now approaching a point 45 miles south of Neghelli and Alghe and a similar distance north of the Yadellos.”

In the south, Abyssinian patriots, led by British officers, have captured Marcliow. Indian troops have attacked a base where the Italians are reported to lie putting up a heavy defence. An official Cairo communique (says the Pro* Association) states that Indian troops advancing from the north captured two further important features in the Amba Alagi sector, taking 150 prisoners. Meanwhile our column advancing from the south again made important headway, inflicting serious casualties on the Italian defenders. FIRST’ TO BE RES 1 OKED.

A British Official Wireless message says that m a telegram to Air Churchill expressing “gratitude for the sympathy and kindness shown to me in the past and lor the support <J armed forces in the present” and 1 1 is pride in the fact that his own people, in collaboration with the British imperial forces, should he able to play a part in the defeat of the enemy, Emperor liailc Selassie asks that his thanks he given to tho forces which have participated in the campaign. -Mr Churchill has replied: “It is with deep and universal pleasure that tho British nation learned of your Imperial Majesty's welcome home to your capital at Addis Ababa. Your Majesty was tho first of the lawful sovereigns to he driven from his throne and country by tho Fascist, and Nazi criminals and is now the first to return to triumph. Your Majesty’s thanks will bo duly conveyed to the commanders, officers and men of the British and Empire forces who had aided the Ethiopian patriots in the total and final destruction of Italian military usurpation. The British Government looks forward to a lone: period nf peace and progress in Ethiopia after the forces of evil have been finally overthrow n.”