ITALY’S EXPLANATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 5

ITALY’S EXPLANATION.

FORCED TO TAKE STEPS.

BATTLE IN PROGRESS AT

ADIGRAT

(Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) GENEVA, October 3. The Italian Government informed the League that in view of the general mobilisation of Abyssinia, she was compelled to order General Bono to take all measures against a possible attack, including the occupation of strategic points for the purpose of defence. Abyssinia, sent a Note to the League protesting against the alleged bombardment, involving loss of life and property. Action is continuing.

The Abyssinian Note to the League of Nations reports that there were numerous casualties among civilians, including women and children, at Adowa. At Adigrat, a battle is in progress. The Italian. Ambassador cabled M. Laval explaining that the Italian advance was necessary to defend her colonies against Abyssinian aggression.

ITALIANS CROSS FRONTIER.

GOOD FOR WARD BASE! OCCUPIED,

LONDON 1 , October 3. The. Addis Ababa correspondent of “The Times" says it is now confirmed from two independent sources, one of which is French, that the Abyssinian frontier cast of Mount MusaUi was broken last week, when tiie Italians hurriedly pushed forward from Assab, and, without encountering opposition, occupied a good fonvard base for aeroplanes in the western foothills, 56 miles from the sea.

The French authorities immediately sent a detachment of native troops to their northern frontier.

The Italians are said already to have run a supply track to the new base, where there is a large number of native troops, with a few white officers, armoured cars, and aeroplanes of the latest colonial type. There are reported to be 60,000 Italian troops in the Assab area, but because of the water difficulty it is improbable that more than a quarter of them can be established at the new’ base.