DOWN BLIND ALLEYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1941, Page 5

DOWN BLIND ALLEYS

RETREAT OF THE ITALIANS IN ABYSSINIA PURSUED AND HARRIED FROM THE AIR. OVER 40.000 PRISONERS TAKEN IN ERITREA. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 12. The Italian forces which are retiring in all directions from Addis Ababa have withdrawn down 200-mile-long “blind alleys" —the roads which radiate from the Abyssinian capital like the spokes of a wheel. Some, says a cable from Addis Ababa, have gone north-east toward Dessye. but the bulk have retired to the north-west, west and south toward the Debra Marcos and Jimma districts respectively. Communications between these points are extremely difficult.

The South African Air Force has bombed 5000 Italians who. with 50 vehicles, are jammed between the British Imperial forces at Dobra Marcos and Addis Ababa. Their retreat toward Dessye. Amva Alagai and Eritrea has been cut off. The main Italian forces with the Duke of Aosta are at Jimma. Following the light at Adana other Italians are being driven south past Assele and the lake districts, beyond which further retreat is blocked by the forces from Neghelli'and Yavello. The latest War Office communique states: "Our advance southward in Eritrea on two main roads has been somewhat slowed up by blocks, which are now being cleared. The total prisoners captured from the commencement of the present operations in Eritrea till the capture of Massawa number 41.000. of which 1000 arc Italian officers. 14.000 Italian other ranks and 25.000 colonial troops. "While our advance into southern Abyssinia from Italian Somaliland is developing the columns operating from Addis Ababa continue to press the retreating enemy. At. Addis Ababa the prisoners number 5000, of whom 4000 are Italians. Many more prisoners are being rounded up daily in other areas."

A Nairobi communique dealing with the Abyssinian fighting states: "The enemy is being relentlessly followed up in all sectors. Our patrols have made contact with rear elements and further prisoners and stores have been captured. In all areas the Abyssinian patriot forces have been swollen by numbers of Abyssinians who are anxious to rid their country of its former conquerors."

The R.A.F.. in an attack on an enemy aerodrome in Northern Abyssinia. (he 8.8. C. reports, severely damaged motor transport and a number of aircraft on the ground. The South African Air Force, in other operations, destroyed three Italian planes. Three British planes are missing, but the pilots of two are safe. The number of Italians surrendering in Abyssinia is increasing daily.