GUERRILLA WARFARE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 5

GUERRILLA WARFARE.

EMPEROR’S ADVICE TO TROOPS.

“BE CUNNING; BE SAVAGE!”

ADDIS ABABA, October 4

Immediately the news of the bombardment of Adowa and Adigrat was received, the whole of the people, their faces contorted with violent rage ran to the .Emperor’s Palace, where ho stood on the balcony in perfect calm. Tearing out their knives, the mob shouted: “Death to the Italians! Finish it once and far all. God. give you long life!” The Emperor gently commanded silence, and leaning over the balcony replied: “I am happy to see you with knives, swords and rifles, but it is not I alono who know, but the great world outside, that Abyssinian warriors will die for freedom.”

Pausing a moment he continued: “Soldiers, I give you this advice so that we can 'gain a victory over the enemy: Be cunning; be savage ; face the enemy one by one, two by two, five by five in the fields and the mountains; do not take white-clothes; do not mass as you are doing now; hide and strike suddenly, snipe and murder singly. “To-day war has begun. Therefore scatter and advance to victory.” At this the whole assembly cheered three times shouted, “Glory to the Emperor!” and plunged through the narrow Palace gates.

OVER 100,000 MEN. ITALIAN FORCES OPERATING. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 4. A British United Press correspondent with the Italian forces says: “General Gabba informed me that over 100,000 troops are involved in the present operations, consisting of six divisions and numerous auxiliaries.”

HEAVY SETBACKS,

ADMISSION PA' ABYSSINIANS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, October 4. The Abyssinians admit' heavy setbacks.

“ CANNOT HOLD ADOWA.” THE COMMANDER’S ’ MESSAGE. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 4. “Cannot bold Adowa much longer” is the Abyssinian Commander’s latest message.

FANATICAL NATIVES.

MENACE TO NEUTRAL NATIONALS

ADDIS ABABA, October 4. Mr Noel Monks, the special correspondent of the “Sun-Herald” service, says: “When the news of the Italian advance reached Addis Ababa. 45 journalists made a dash for the radio station, but all were held up by) fana-

tical natives, who surrounded, us, ‘Farangi, Farangi!’ (foreigners). I was hit over the head twice witn a rifle, and several others were severely manhandled before they were rescued by tho Imperial Guard. “It was a foretaste of what will happen to Europeans here if things go wrong with Ab.vSsinia on the frontier. They think every white man is an Italian.”