MAJOR RESISTANCE AT END

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21969, 22 May 1941, Page 5

MAJOR RESISTANCE AT END

Significance Of Fall Of Amba Alagi Epic Of Military History British Official Wireless RUGBY, May 20. The Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) told the House of Commons to-day that since members had last met several important events had happened. In the first place the victory at Amba Alagi had resulted to the surrender of the Duke of Aosta and his full remaining force. “This must be considered as bringing all major organised resistance in Abyssinia to an end,” said the Prime Minister. “No doubt further fighting will continue for some time fa the south, but this certainly marks the culmination of a campaign which, I venture to think, is one of the most remarkable ever fought by British arms. It reflects credit on Lieutenant-General A. G. Cunningham and Mayor-General W. Platt, who have discharged sc well the task assigned to them by General Sir Archibald Wavell. “I take this opportunity of pointing out the good work done by the South African Army, a strong force raised in Cape Colony and in the Union of South Africa. They were ordered by General Smuts to go forward and now that this theatre of war is closing down they are moving northwards to the Mediterarnean. Honours to Indians “Also, two British Indian divisions won laurels at Kassala and all the way from Kassala to Keren and up to the final event. These Indian divisions consisted of six Indian battalions and three British battalions. I am assured that the greatest admiration Is felt at the extraordinary military qualities displayed by these Indian troops and that their ardour and endurance of all hardships has won them the regard of their British comrades. Sometimes we found several cases where no British officer remained and yet the battalion conducted itself to the most effective manner. “Altogether this episode is one which reflects a very great honour upon the soldiers of India of all the castes and creeds engaged. I feel that I could not refer to this matter without bringing It to a direct and emphasised manner to the attention of the House.”

No Italians at Solium Mr Churchill, speaking of the Libyan operations, said: “The second event which has occurred since we were last here is the well-sustained action at Solium. This is of interest because it is being fought exclusively between British and German troops. It has not, I suppose, been found worth while to maintain Italian troops at the end of such a long and precarious line of communication. The fighting was severe, but it was not on a very large “Several of our motorised brigades, supported bv armoured brigades and strong artillery, advanced about 30 miles from the position where they had been deployed for some weeks past, and attacked the enemy, taking Solium, Halfaya Pass, and Fort Capuzzo. The armoured troops nad got well round the flank and were very well situated about one o’clock last Saturday, but the Germans launched a resolute counter-attack With about 40 tanks and recaptured Fort Capuzzo. That entailed the withdrawal of the armoured brigade from the advantageous position which it had attained. “The operations, therefore, have been indecisive, but the Germans claim to have taken 100 British prisoners. We have 500 Germans In our hands, and the losses to tanks and personnel are certainly as heavy, if not heavier, on their side than on ours. “But this operation must be regarded on the background that for more than six weeks the Germans have been proclaiming that they will shortly be at Sues and they have been making much credit with the neutral world by spreading statements of this kind. It is, therefore, satisfactory for us to say that we have retained strong offensive power, and that the fighting is being maintained at any rate on even terms In the advance areas of the approaches to Egypt.” ■ , „ American aircraft were used to the air bombardment of enemy positions around Fort Capuzzo on the afternoon of May 18. This is the first time that aircraft manufactured in the United States have been used as bombers in the North African campaign, states the Air Ministry News Service. Heavy bombs were dropped on German tanks and mechanised vehicles dispersed near the old Fort Capuzzo aerodrome. The squadron has an American citizen on its nominal roll. He is a sergeant air-gunner, v.ho was awarded the D.F.M. for gallantry to the Abyssinian campaign. “During the night of May 18-19 heavy raids were made on Germanoccupied aerodromes to Greece,” states a Royal Air Force communique. “Three very violent explosions and a number of fires were caused at Hassanl. At Eleusis, one building received a direct hit and several fires were started. Enemy aircraft carried out a sustained attack throughout yesterday on aerodromes in Crete. The hospital at Canea was bombed and machine-gunned, and some casualties were caused to the hospital staff. "In the Western Desert, Royal Air Force bomber and fighter aircraft carTied out a series of attacks on enemy transport and mechanised units. A number of these vehicles were burned and many others were made unserviceable by being ditched at the roadside. Some of the vehicles contained troops. “In a raid carried out on Benghazi on the night of May 18-19, no fewer than twenty-eight explosions were caused among buildings on the mole. “From ail these operations three of our aircraft are missing.” Malta was heavily raided by enemy aircraft last night. Damage was greater than In previous raids. Several civilians were killed and many others are missing and are believed to be buried unded the debris of wrecked buildings.

Triumph Well Won Commenting on the surrender of Amba Alagi, the “Dally Telegraph” says that the campaign is likely to stand as one of tne finest feats of our military history.” “There have been no sudden, swift successes for the British forces engaged and they had to fight hard for the winning of every position gained in mountainous country which offered every natural advantage for defence and they were opposed by the one Italian general who measured up to the boasting of the Italian dictator. The Duke of Aosta proved himself an able soldier with a high capacity for leadership. When steps have been taken to give the remaining defenders at Jimma and Gondar the news of the collapse at Amba Alagi, the moral effect Is likely to be decisive in bringing Abyssinian operations to an end. The campaign has proved the sterling military quality of the British forces from two far separated and dissimilar regions of the Empire. The South Africans and Indians have covered themselves with glory.” The “Daily Mail” says that the Italians now had more than 400,000 men put out of action in two campaigns in Libya and Abyssinia. In our drive to Benghazi 200,000 of II Duce’s soldiers were killed, wounded or captured—-most of them Italians. Mussolini had another 300,000 men in Abyssinia, about 100.000 of them Italians. In 94 days' fighting we have put out of action more than 200,000 of them, including almost all the Italians. Most of the native troops who were not casualties or prisoners, deserted.”