9000 More Prisoners In Abyssinia

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1941, Page 5

9000 More Prisoners In Abyssinia

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 25. In both the Tobruk and Solium areas our patrols and artillery have again been active, says a Cairo communique. Operations in the lakes areas of Abyssinia are proceeding satisfactorily. Further north a large column of Italians which escaped from Debra Marcos at the beginning of April and which has since been attempting to evade capture by moving about in the trackless mountain areas north of Addis Ababa was attacked by Sudanese troops and patriots led by British officers.

After three days’ fierce fighting the column capitulated. The prisoners number 570 Italians, 5000 colonial troops and 3000 banda (native troops).

The material includes seven guns and 170 machine guns. Seven hundred civilians were also in the party.

Two Divisions Surrounded

The latest information on the Abyssinian campaign is contained in a communique from British headquarters in Cairo.

“In the Gondar area,” it states, “troops of the Sudan defence forces successfully repulsed a heavy enemy counter-attack against a ridge overlooking Chilga, which we occupied a few days ago. The situation has been completely restored. “In the south, the battle of the lakes continues to develop well. Soddu is now in our hands and the two Italian divisions in this area have been surrounded.

“In addition, other important enemy forces to the west of the lakes are now separated.

Negroes Fight Well

“In sharp engagements preceding the capture of Soddu, West African a number of guns, and mechanical troops took several hundred prisoners, transport with slight losses to themselves.

“Still further south, West African troops occupied Uondo, where 600 Italians, with guns, armoured cars and other equipment, were captured. On all fronts these spectacular operations have been successfully developed in spite of most difficult climatic conditions.”

A communique issued by British headquarters in Cairo states that a very heavy sandstorm in the Tobruk area interfered with observation and operations yesterday. In the Solium area our patrols and artillery continued aggressive tactics.

Tobruk Artillery Like Somme

A Berlin report states that, commenting on the position at Tobruk, a German military spokesman said the British garrison was offering considerably more resistance than was expected. “The artillery fire has the intensity of the Battle of the Somme,” he says. “Our troops suffer from the heat and lack of water, hut it may be assumed that the British suffer more, as reservoirs and pipes have been destroyed by Stukas. “The lack of heavy artillery is a set-back to our operations, as bombers are insufficient to replace guns.” German panzer units have received a severe set-back, the heaviest since they made their appearance in Libya. Since Wednesday, 11 enemy tanks have been destroyed in the Solium ai’ea.

Bombing in Abyssinia

Yesterday, aircraft of " the Free French unit bombed enemy troops and the fort at Goang, in the Gondar area. On the previous day bombers, and fighters of the South African Air Force successfully bombed and- machinegunned enemy positions and motor transport at various points. Direct hits were obtained on enemy anti-aircraft batteries on the banks of the Omo River. In all these operations one of our fighters was lost.