Evening star., 1941-05-20
End of on Empire

The capitulation of the main 1tal-
ian Army under the Duke of Aosta
at his mountain citadel Of Amba
Alagi practically rings down the cur
tain on Italy's empire in East Africa.
The whole imperial structure pain
fully erected during more than half
q century and eliminating in the
conquest of Ethiopia five short years
ago has been demolished.
Annba Alagi was the strategic key
to the Italian system of defense. Set
in the midst of mountainous country,
1t is a towering fat-topped peak
with steep sides; what, in our West,
is called a butte 1t also blocked the
main highroad between Italian
Eritrea and Ethiopia.
In this final fastness the Duke OF
Aosta retreated after the fall OF
Adds Ababa. 1t is significant of
Italian losses that, out of the $4,000
men who have laid down their arms,
only 1000 are whites, the rest being
native troops. When Italy entered
the war less than a year ago, her
forces in East Africa were supposed
to number 25O,OOO, of whom 100000
we're white. Today, only two or
three isolated Italian garrisons of no
great size remain under arms.
That in the final stand over 10000
native soldiers remained loyal and
fought we'll to the last is largely at
tributable to the personal ability
Of the Duke of Aosta. He knew how
to inspire confidence among his CO.
lonial soldiers, drawn mostly from
the older italian colonies. Indeed,
the Dukes record, both as a general
and as an administrator, has been
excellent. 1t is the one bright page
In Italy's war record. Under happier
circumstances, he might have gone
down in history as successful en-
pire builder.
AS 1t was, his task was hopeless
from the moment when the Italian
invasion of Egypt broke down in
retreat and disaster last autumn.
Thenceforth the British could con-
centrate attacks upon isolated East
Africa from every side. Deprived Of
any possibility of receiving REIN
forcements or supplies, the be-
leaguered Italian forces were doomed.
The Dukes job was to hold out as
long as possible, keeping the maxi
mum number Of British forces en-
ployed in East Africa and thus
away from other theaters Of war.
This job he has accomplished with
remarkable skill Nearly a month
ago, when the fall of ASmara in
Eritrea and the fall of Adds Ababa
in Ethiopia hemmed in the Duke on
both sides, General Cunningham,
the British commander, demanded
surrender to avoid useless bloodshed
and assure the safety of the white
civilian colonists. That demand was
instantly rejected, and Italian re-
sistance was prolonged we'll into the
rainy season, thereby delaying the
British plan to shift the bulk of
their armies from East Africa to
other points in the Near East where
they are desperately needed.
Now, at last, the fall of Amba
Alagi unblockS the highroad, and
British forces will undoubtedly roll
northward to Massawa and other
Red Sea ports for quick transfer.
The large contingents of Indian
troops will be especially valuable in
Iraq, where the humid summer heat
bears very hard on white soldiers.
The excellent South African air
force will likewise be a welcome re-
enforcement to the Near Eastern
branch of the Royal Air Force in
its struggle against the German
Luftwaffe now winging it's way
across the Eastern Mediterranean.
East Africa thus ceases to be
theater of military action, except
for minor mopping-up operations.
But it's place on the war map is more
than taken by new campaigns in the
Arab lands. The scene changes, but
the war goes on.