THE LATEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 6

THE LATEST

THE ATTACK ON ADOWA.

STUBBORN DEFENCE EXPECTED.

SACRED OBELISKS NEARBY.

TOMBS OF EARLY MONAROHS

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 3.

The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “News-Chronicde” says that two squadrons of aeroplanes carried out raids, after which Italian infantry advanced east of Adigrat, indicating the encircling and outflanking of Adowa. ’ There has been no declaration of war and no communication by the Italian Legation to the Ethiopian Government. It is reported that the Italians have .70 tanks at the Moussli base, where they aio preparing landing grounds for 200 aeroplanes for Assab. The Asmara correspondent of the .“Daily Mail” says that the Italians, according to plan, are advancing in several columns. A stiff fight is expected before Adowa falls. Between 40,000 and 50,000 Abyssinians are massed in readiness for its defence. Moreover 13 miles from Adowa are the ruins of the town of Aksum, including the tombs of the earliest Abyssinian monarclis, marked by the highest obelisks in the world, which the Ethiopians regard as ■sacred, and they will not abandon them without hard fighting. The Italians are planning an advance base at Adowa as the great moral objective, wiping out their defeat of 1896.

OFFICIALLY ADMITTED. THE BOMBING OF ADOWA. (Received This Day, 2.20 p.m.) ROME, October 4. It is officially admitted that Italian aeroplanes bombed Adowa.

AN ITALIAN ALLEGATION.

ABYSSINIANS THE AGGRESSORS.

OPENED FIRE ON AIRCRAFT. ON RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT. (Received This Day, 2.20 p.m.) ROME, Octoßer 4. An official spokesman explained that the Cianos squadron went for a reconnaissance flight. The squadron was fired on by Abyssinian troops, but flew on toward Adowa. When the squadron was over Adowa the guns in the fort began to fire on the squadron. The Italian ’planes bombed the guns.