MAKALE DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 16, 31 October 1935, Page 5

MAKALE DEFENCE

HUGE CONCENTRATION ' ' !'■ ■■ COUNTER-ATTACK POSSIBLE. ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ETHIOPIANS. ON ITALIANS’ LEFT WING. INVADERS’ CENTRE ON HEIGHTS United Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.; LONDON, October 30. Reports from Asmara indicate the possibility of the Abyssinians carrying out a counter-attack in defence of Makale, led by Ras Kassa with 100,000 warriors, against General Santini’s Ist Army Corps, on the left wing of the Italians, whose scouts discovered intensified Abyssinian concentrations south of Debra Sion and Adaga Hamus. The Italian centre occupies a commanding position, having crowned the heights overlooking Makale from the North, while its patrols are within five miles of the town.

RETURN OF HAWARIAT.

COMMAND OF BIG ARMY. (Received- Tills Day, 1.10 p.m.) ADDIS ABABA, October 30. The return of Ted a Hawaii at gives colour to the supposition that the Abyssinians are planning an important movement, under his leadership, .in the Ogaden area, where Ras Nasibu and d)esta are preparing an offensive between, the Webbeshibeli and Fafan rivers. Hawariat will therefore command 205,000 troops.

RESISTANCE STIFFENING.

AGAINST CONTROL BY ITALY.

ETHIOPIAN MERCHANTS FUNDS

(Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, October 30.

Abyssinian resistance to any form of control by Italy appears to be stiffening.. The Emperor, thanking a deputation of merchants who piled bags containing 85,000 silver thalers at his feet, assured them that Abyssinia would never accept Italian rule. The merchants declared that they would 1 gladly sacrifice their last drop of blood, as well as money, for theii country’s independence.

HUNDREDS OF MACHINE-GUNS.

'MOSTLY BRITISH MANUFACTURE.

CARRIED THROUGH ADDIS ABABA

(Received; This Day, 9.35 a.m.) ADDIS. ABABA, Oct. 30. Hundreds of machine-guns, mostly of British manufacture, have just arrived. They were carried through the streets to impress the population.

ITALIANS’ GREAT PROBLEM.

COMMUNICATION BY ROAD.

BRITISH OBSERVER’S PLAN.

(Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) 'LONDON, October 30.

The “Daily Mail’s” correspondent at Asmara (Mr Fuller) re-emphasises that the communications of the Italians are a supreme problem. He praises their engineering proficiency, but urges avoidance of confusion, the saving of wear and tear on roads by lorries by organising one-way traffic every alternate 12 hours, eschewing heavy vehicles and grouping others in convoys of similar speeds, which should be reduced as far as possible. He also urges the establishment of shunting stations, traffic police, telephones and lighting at dangerous bends.

ready for evacuation.

WALLS of HARR AH BREACHED

(Received This Day, 1.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 30,

The “Daily Mail” says that the walls of Harrar city have been breached at five points, to enable speedy Abyssinian evacuation if necessary. Heavy traffic has r endered the Harrar - to - Jijiga road almost impassable. All is quiet on the Ogaden front, but the concentration of troops may presage an Abyssinian offensive when the present light, rains cease.