ITALIANS BESET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23968, 19 May 1941, Page 8

ITALIANS BESET

15,000 AT AMBA AIAGI

PROGRESS IN ABYSSINIA

ENEMY'S TREACHEROUS TRICK (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 18 It: is announced that 15,000 Italians have been surrounded at the fort at Amha Alagi. In spite of continuous heavy rain, further progress has again been made by Indian troops from the north; and by South African troops advancing from the south, says a British official wireless message. Jii southern areas, the British occupied Ginbissire, 12 miles north of Alge. British troops have arrived at Adola, 50 miles north of Neghelli, where they found 80 men who had deserted from the enemy forces. The important post of Sciasciamanna has been occupied and further prisoners taken. White Flag Misused When Indian troops attacked entrenched Italians at Mount Alagi recently, the Black Shirts hoisted a white Hag and then hurled hand grenades at the Indians, says the Times' correspondent at Addis Ababa. A company of Indians moving up the slopes of Mount Alagi opened devastating mach-ine-gun fire on the enemy entrenchments. When the white flag appeared the Indians ceased fire and moved forward. They were within .'!oyds. of the trenches when the Italians stood up and showered on them hand grenades, and then leapt out of the trenches in a counter-attack. The Indians withdrew from this difficult situation, but suffered casualties. The fighting occurring in the mountains can only he described as stupendous. Air Force Active A Rhodesian squadron carried out a series of raids on Amba Alagi, n Royal Air Force communique states. A fort at Toselli was attacked, ten direct hits being registered. Air support was also given to British troops operating in central Abyssinia. The Gondar aerodrome was bombed by Free French aircraft, and some enemy fighters on the ground were severely damaged. An Italian communique says the Italians at Amha Alagi are being attacked hourly from all sides under constant lire from artillery and aeroplanes. SOMALILAND PORT TAKEN (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, M;iy 17 In north-east Italian Somaliland British troops occupied the important Italian port of Dante, says a British official wireless message. MASSING OF MATERIAL PREPARING MORTAL BLOW LONDON, May 10 The Minister of Information, Mr. A. DutT Cooper, broadcasting to Latin America, expressed regret that the strict enforcement of the blockade, which was essentia] to victory, should have caused any hardship to the South American countries, says a British official wireless message. "1 am convinced they will bear this suffering with patience, and afterward any sacrifices will he redeemed a hundredfold," the Minister added. "Britain will continue to stand firm. More than that, Britain will continue on her determined way until she has massed within her island fortress sufficient weight, of material to deal Hitler a mortal blow and win the war. "This coiling up of the springs of power can be achieved —is indeed being achieved to-day—by the exercise of Britain's strength at sea and in the air. For not only does this strength guarantee the defence of Britain against any direct onslaught that Hitler may attempt, hub British sea and air power also guarantee that that vast programme of arms production now being undertaken by the United States will not be wasted. The weapons we need for victory in the battle for freedom will steadily pile up against the dav of reckoning.''