ADDIS ABABA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1941, Page 6

ADDIS ABABA

CAPTURED WITHOUT BLOODSHED ANNOUNCEMENT IN CAIRO. DESSIE AS NEXT OBJECTIVE. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON. April 6. A military spokesman in Cairo stated that Addis Ababa was captured without bloodshed and the British forces probably are sweeping on to Dessie. HANDED OVER FATE OF GARRISON UNCERTAIN. NO VERY HOPEFUL LINE OF RETREAT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav, Noon.) RUGBY. April G. Whether the arrival of advanced Imperial troops at Addis Ababa connotes the capture of the Italian garrison, which must have been considerable, is not yet known but militarycircles consider that the Italians handed the town over to the Imperial troops after withdrawing the bulk of their forces. It is difficult to say in which direction these forces can safely withdraw. It would be unwise to retire particularly to the north, since Imperial forces hold strong positions at Debra Marcos. Flight in the direction of Assab would find the British waiting on the Red Sea coast. The capture of Addis Ababa would be regarded as an indication that the whole of the East African campaign might come to an end at no distant date, but it is emphasised that recently there were computed to be 70,000 Italian troops and 100,000 Italian-controll-ed native troops still to be reckoned with. The figure does .not allow for Italian forces that have been “mopped up’ during recent operations.