The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-19
Italy Surrenders Big
 Ethiopian Stronghold
Continued from Page D

belief here.
 The Duke had suddenly changed his mind about fighting to the death. A few weeks ago he had made overtures to the British. Sur render terms were offered him. He replied that he would hold the Bri- tish responsible for the safety of White Italian civilians In Ethiopia and that he himself would fight with his army ito the last man."
 At that time the Duke apparent ly expected the British to see to the safety of Italian civilians n Ethiopia, protecting them from the vengeance of Ethiopia who have complained of oppression and tor- ture, and to leave him free to keep the remaining British forces occu- pied.
 The Italians had abandoned great areas of Ethiopia to concentrate their defense in the three small re- maining areas.
 It was understood that the 1tal- fans had decided to hold out as long as possible on orders from Berlin, to prevent the reinforcement of the British armies In other areas.
 Syria, Iraq Danger Spots
 Military experts continued to look anxiously toward Syria and 1raq and warned that the entire British position in the near East depended on swift and vigorous moves to knock out the Iraq forces before Germany and Italy could become active on q big scale In that area.
 The well informed times pointed out, on the bright side, that now Germany and Italy would have to send all forces and equipments to Syria and Iraq by alrplane.
 Prom the strategic point of view the situation favors us at that in the central Mediterranean never has," 1t said with superior com municatlons on our side the issue resolves itself Into one of material, If we can dispose of enough war ships to make the levant too dan gerous to the enemy, enough air. craft to deny him free communica- tions across Syria, and enough equipment to enable us to use our troops to the best possible advant- age in Iraq, 1t will not be a matter of great difficulty to keep the Ger mans out"
 On the other hand Daily Herald military expert took Q grave view Of Britains failure to seize com- plete control of Iraq in recent weeks and prevent the Germans from gaining a foothold at the Mosul airdrome whence they might take off to bomb British positions. Italy Admits It Rome, May 19-(UP)-The army of the Duke of Aosta, reported to have fought until It's last hand gre. made had been fired, surrendered today to the British at Amba Ala gi, Ethiopia.
 Italian sources claimed that the Fascist forces in, Ethiopia are now outnumbered by the British 100 to and said the Duke had been in- structed to yield. The Duke is now prisoner in British hands, 1t was sa!d.
 At two points in Ethiopia Italy's forces still resist Gondar, to the northwest and Jimma, south of Ad- dis Ababa.
 Toward the last, Italian quarters reported, the Amba Alagi forces fought with improvised hand gree nades-bottles filled with combusti. bles. They had no aircraft, no anti- aircraft guns, virtually no food and no means of caring for wounded men.
 Amba Alagi, the Italians said, held out for 40 days-the British starting their siege April 8--thus forcing the British to maintain large forces in Ethiopia instead of transferring them to other fighting fronts. Dispatches claimed that native Askari troops displayed their loyal- ty to Italy by blowing up British tanks in which they were supposed to be acting as guides to the Brit ish.
 The high command announced that the Duke of Aosta had sur- rendered under orders given from Rome.
 The British forces, "in homage" to the surrendering Italians, permitted officers to keep their revolvers, tk was said. and the Italian soldiers. with their rifles, filed past the Brit- ish troops who rendered them hoE1- ors.