CLEAR OF ITALIANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 7

CLEAR OF ITALIANS

ABYSSINIAN TERRITORY. FORCES ANNIHILATED. LONDON, May 30. In the recent fighting in the lake district south of Addis Ababa, the capital of Abyssinia, we have captured at least 14,000 Italians and more than 140 guns and have cleared an area of 10.000 square miles of enemy forces. An agency message from Nairobi says tins splendid result is attributable to the activities of the .Kings Airman Rifles and Gold Coast forces, assisted by Abyssinian patriots. As at Ainba Alagi, ul the northeast, the Italians were trapped between two forces and the enemy were completely annihilated. Forces from the south captured 7000 prisoners and those lrom the north accounted lor lour divisions.

The latest reports show that the operations in the lake district are progressing satisfactorily despite heavy rain and extreme heat. Operations continue against 35,000 enemy troops in the Jimma region. ONLY TWO POCKETS

ENEMY R F.SISTANCE. (British Official Wireless.) i (Rec. 9.3 S a.in.) RUGBY, May 30. In Abyssinia the evacuation of ! Debarech, 50 miles north of. Gondar, ! on the Adowa road, and the retreat ot j the enemy towards Gondar suggest i that they are now being hemmed m. ! Patriot iorces with British officers carried out the opera tion at Debarech , and British forces are at Chaiga, on i the west, where an Italian countcr-at- ; tack recently failed, and at Debra Tabor, on the south-east, while Lake Tsana, to the south, is a natural obstacle. Gondar, in the north, and Jimma', : ill the south, -are now the only two places where enemy lorces are. in j being. \ I Planes of the S.A.A.F. continue to ! harass the Italian force still holding jout in the region ol Jimma. Direct hits were made on a road and buildiings. some of which were set on fire. Transport vehicles north of Alghe were i destroyed. In the Gondar area targets at Azozo and Digya were bombed and machinegunned. A Nairobi communique states that j the operations in the lake area and to ; the west, are proceeding, and a number of deserters have come over to our forces. Patriot activity is still increasing. Their attacks on enemy com-, munieations and outlying detachments are of great assistance to our opera-; tions generally.