BRITISH CONQUESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1941, Page 5

BRITISH CONQUESTS

MASSAWA & ADDIS ABABA SOME REMARKABLE SCENES. PURSUIT OF RETREATING ITALIANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 10. The final battle for Massawa began at 1 p.m. on Tuesday after an 18-hour truce to enable the Italians to consider the British surrender terms. The truce ended when the Italian admiral commanding the port announced his decision, which it is believed was dictated from Rome, to defend the port to the last. His decision was conveyed by a staff officer who was brought blindfolded to British headquarters. An exchange of gunfire announced the beginning of the final battle, shortly after which the Royal Air Force bombed the Italian positions. The Italians had not attempted to defend the road winding across the mountains from Asmara, and therefore could not hope to hold Massawa, despite the heavy shore guns which faced inland. A force of the French Legion formed the spearhead of the assault. A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states that prior to the entry if our troops into Massawa aircraft of the Royal Air Force and Rhodesian squadrons raided enemy positions and gun emplacements on Mount Umberto. Ships in the harbour shelling our troops were bombed, one being hit. There were several near misses to others. On other fronts in Italian East Africa our aircraft continued to give support to our advancing troops. At Italian communique states that Massawa fell as the “result of overwhelming forces.” JOY IN ADDIS ABABA. Remarkable scenes marked the British occupation of Addis Ababa. As the Ethiopian flag was ceremoniously hoisted over the old Parliament House on Sunday afternoon the Abyssinian Ras kissed the boots of the British commander. The sight of the flag brought an audible hum from the crowds below, which spread till the whole city was cheering. Before hoisting the flag the British commander addressed the Abyssinian leaders and Somali chiefs and appealed to them to keep order in and outside the town. The gathering promised amid tumultuous cheers to do so. A proclamation, signed by Haile Selassie in the heart of the Gojjam mountains on March 17, was then read. It empowered the British leaders in consultation with Abyssinian leaders to issue notices relating to the prosecution of the war. Nigerians have crossed the Awash River, hotly pursuing the remnants of General Santini’s forces, who are cut off in the Hadama region. The Italian forces have been driven into the Arussi mountains and have only the faintest hope of rejoining the Duke of Aosta in the north. Selassie’s army, a hundred mile north-west of Addis Ababa, is forcing back the depleted Italian battalions to the Blue Nile and the Black Shirts are thus caught between two columns.

Sixty-five hundred Italian troops who were left in Addis Ababa to protect the civilians refused to leave the city.

A Royal Air Force communique states: “In Aybssinia it is now confirmed that when our troops entered Addis Ababa the remains of 31 enemy aircraft were discovered wrecked or in a damaged condition at the aerodrome. Fourteen, including five fighters, are burnt out, nine, including three fighters. have been damaged by machinegun fire and there are in addition the fuselages and crashed remains of eight others.