NEWS OF THE WEEK
THOUGH the fall of Massawa has not been announced as I these words are written it may probably enough have already taken place. The historic week which saw the Yugo- slav revolution and the almost incredible victory of Cape Matapan has sealed the fate of Eritrea. With the fall of Keren effective resistance collapsed. Asmara surrendered without resistance, and the fall of Massawa became inevitable. A sweep to the south, where the port of Assab still remains in Italian hands, will be necessary. Then all Eritrea, like Italian Somali- land, will have been cut away from the Italian Empire. Only Abyssinia and Tripolitania remain. Tripolitania is clearly being left alone for the moment, except for attentions from the RA.F., but nothing but the coming rains can save the Italians in Addis Ababa, and it is doubtful if they will get even that respite. The fall of Harrar and Diredawa, in the same astonish- ing last week of March, open the way to the capital, and Imperial columns are converging on it by other routes as well. Whether the Duke of Aosta surrenders now or holds out for a few weeks more is a matter of indifference. As the African campaign is wound up men and stores become available for service in the Balkans if needed. They pretty clearly will be, though Yugoslavia's courageous -Stand has thrown Hitler's whole machine out of gear and left him for the moment com- pletely at a loss. The full agreement reported between Croats and Serbs, on the basis of Croat autonomy, is another blow to the Germans, whose campaign of intimidation is in full blast. That Yugoslavia will defend herself if attacked is certain. And It Is hard to see how Hitler can avoid attacking her.
