CAB80-32 — Page 207

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15.1

169

In the west, the Sudan Defence Force battalion advancing along the road from Gallabat was in contact with the main position, 7 miles west of Chelga, by the 18th November, and on the 20th November captured an important outpost 3 miles north of the town. The operations of this force are believed to have contained at least three Blackshirt battalions and three Italian colonial battalions. At the same time, the Ethiopian battalion, which had advanced up the shore of Lake Tana, had invested Gorgora and was pushing steadily northward.

Patriot forces worked in the closest co-operation with all our columns and their

presence was to a great extent responsible for the high rate of desertion from the enemy's native units.

In addition the enemy, wherever they could be located, were subjected to unremitting attacks by the co-operating R.A.F. and South African Air Force Squadrons.

The Surrender.

40. As the advance progressed, it became increasingly evident that the enemy's morale was deteriorating as the result of our land and air operations and his shortage of supplies. Desertions were frequent and there were rumours of mutiny amongst his native troops. For example, after our forces took Tadda Ridge, 7 miles to the south-east of Gondar, Colonel Toreli, commanding an Italian reserve brigade, appears to have ordered a counter-attack, which his troops refused to carry out. Under these circumstances, General Fowkes decided that a direct attack on Gondar fortress from the east would produce quicker results than the attack on the Wolaich position originally planned. The 26th East African Brigade was accordingly diverted to the south-east, leaving a small containing force in the north. By the 25th November this brigade was 8 miles south-east of Gondar.

41. On the 27th November General Nasi surrendered the fortress of Gondar and all the troops under his command. The prisoners amounted to 11,500 Italians and 12,000 native troops. These figures are considerably in excess of previous estimates of the size of the garrison and may be assumed to include a proportion of non-combatant personnel.

Intelligence.

Low Countries and France.

42. It is reported that some formations from the Russian front have gone to France to rest and refit. One report mentions in this connection a total of five or six divisions. Confirmation of this is still awaited. On the other hand, the constant despatch of drafts eastwards from France has brought a proportion of the divisions in that country to well below strength.

Pending further information, therefore, it is impossible to raise the estimate for German forces in the Low Countries and France above the former figure of 27 divisions, of which two are in the area between the River Gironde and the Spanish frontier and three in Holland and Belgium.

Balkan States.

43. There are persistent reports of the movement of German troops south- eastwards through Yugoslavia, Salonika being mentioned as the destination. It is probable that there has been a reshuffle of German garrisons within the 12th Army (the German Army responsible for the Balkans), and it is possible that the Germans have been forced to undertake fresh commitments in the Aegean area because of increased doubt of Italian capacity. It is also possible that the transfer of troops is connected with the replacement of German units sent from Bulgaria to South Russia.

It is estimated that the total number of German divisions in the Balkans is still 14.

Greece.

44. Reports have been received from time to time of the construction of barges and small craft both on the mainland of Greece and among the islands. Latest information suggests that concrete barges are being built in large numbers at Varkisa (12 miles S.S.E. of Athens). These vessels are unhandy and not likely

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