THE LATEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 304, 7 October 1935, Page 6

THE LATEST

PALL PF ADOWA CpNFIRMED. SHEER WEIGHT OF NUMBERS. ’PLANES AND MACHINE GUNS. (Received This Day, 1.55 p.m.) ROME, October 6. The capture of Adowa at 10.30 and its occupation at noon are officially confirmed. The tidings were wirelessed throughout Italy. Signor Mussolini personally informed King Victor Emanuel and telegraphically thanked General de Bono. The second army corps, headed by bombing ’planes, moved forward for the final assault at dawn, after vanquishing by sheer weight of numbers, the 7000 Abyssinians who stubbornly defended the passes of Mount Gwalazai, with such artillery as they possessr * According to Signor Mussolini’s communique, “The army triumphantly entered Adowa. The enemy’s resistance was smashed.”

The weight of Italian artillery and absolute aerial supremacy wore down the opposition, infantry and machinegunners closing in on the town after fierce artillery preparation. Squadrons of aeroplanes crossed and recrossed Fort Auba Bircutan, further south, plastering it with light and heavy bombs and finally machine-gunning the occupants. They also bombed Forts Fereda and Endebaria. Various Italian army corps have made contact on a 60-mile line, having repulsed a fresh attack from Deb Senna. Both sides are bringing up reinforcements.

Skirmishing continues in wild mountain passes.

RESISTANCE AMAZING.

POWERFUL ARMIES NOT USED ONLY HALF MOBILISED. (Received This Day, 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 6. The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “News-Chroni.cle” declares that the Government is amazed at the resistance offered to the Italian advance, because none of Abyssinia’s powerful northern armies have yet been thrown into battle and mobilisation is. only semi-complete.

DURATION OF THE WAR.

EXPERTS EXPECT LONG STRIFE.

EXPLORER GIVES SIX WEEKS. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 6. Everyone is asking how long the wart will last. Military writers mostly believe it

last two or. three years, and some foreign experts estimate even longer. The explorer, Gordon Maccreagii, who is a friend of the Emperor Haile Selassie, is convinced that bombs, ’planes, and, tanks will shatter Abyssinian resistance within six weeks.

GERMANY REMAINING ALOOF

HERR HITLER’S ASSURANCE

NOT ACTING WITHOUT THOUGHT,

(Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) BERLIN, October 6. Herr Hitler assured a million people who attended the harvest festival at Bueckeberg that the Government was doing its utmost to prevent Germany participating in the world’s troubles. He added th,at it was impossible to rely on foreign, help, for that reason the Government would not act without thought.

“We do not want to harm anyone. We will not let anyone harm us,” said Herr Hitler. “The newly-created army navy and air forces assures daily bread in 1936 for Germany, which is blessed with a bountiful harvest.’’