Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 41 No. 9. April 24 1978
Eritrean Victories
Eritrean Victories
Connell reports that the Eritrean liberation forces have won an unbroken series of victories against Mengistu's forces despite the steady flow of Soviet heavy arms, Soviet and Cuban military advisers and South Yemeni combat troops over the past six months and more. He also reports that it is likely that Cuban troops are being airlifted from Angola to join the Ethiopians — which should give pause to those who try to justify the Soveit-Cuban intervention in Angola.
The Eritreans are in striking distance of Asmara where more than 20,000 Ethiopians and 200,000 civilian residents have been encircled since mid-October 1976. The city is facing acute shortages of food, fuel, water and medicines, the joint Ethiopian-Soviet airlift being unable to keep pace with needs. Within the city, executions are being carried out against dissenting officers and soldiers. Desertions are running at 15-20 per day, according to the EPLF.
Connell reports that "The protracted battle for the coastal city of Massawa, former cite of a US navy base involved the most substantial outside support yet for Ethiopia with South Yemeni crews driving tanks. Soviet technicians firing BM-21 Katyusha multiple rocket launchers (Stalin organs), South Yemeni pilots flying the new MIG-21 jets and Soviet warships joining Ethiopian naval vessels in shelling the city"
Whatever specious justification the Soviet imperialists may make, their attempt to crush the Eritreans will be a brutal undertaking which will arouse the world's opposition. Much of the terrain is mountainous and ill-suited to armour. Mengistu is reported to want an all-out war against the Eritreans. But the Soviets may settle for a limited operation to open the road from the Red Sea port of Massawa to Asmara and possibly south to the border of Ethiopia.