740.0011 European War 1939/9581: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—8:50 a.m.]
173. The Legation’s telegram No. 169, April 1, 6 p.m.2 Today’s press announces the capitulation of Asmara and concludes that it marks the final collapse of the Italians in East Africa. A confidential military source reveals that the British are sending a brigade to Massawa which they expect to take without difficulty.
The Legation has also received a confidential report that Addis Ababa could only be defended at the Hawash River and that the Italians possess practically no means of defense even at that point. Consequently the British consider that Addis Ababa will fall without resistance and that some troops will enter that city within a short time. According to this report South African troops, advancing rapidly west of Diredawa, have reached Deder and probably are now beyond that point. The report adds that excellent results from bombing and machine gunning have been reported in the Dessie and Alomata districts.
- Not printed.↩