AIRCRAFT AND ARTILLERY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 63, 26 December 1935, Page 5

AIRCRAFT AND ARTILLERY.

FLIGHT OF THE ABYSSINIANS. VALUABLE FOOD AREA LOST. (United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON,. December 24. A further clash demonstrates the extent of the task still facing the Italians in cleaning up the Tembien area, where the presence of Abyssihians constantly threatens the invaders' occupation of the Aksum-Adigrat-Makale triangle. A fierce engagement occurred yesterday between 5000 Abyssinians and an Italian column comprising white troops and askaris near Endamariam, 30 miles west of Makale. The attempted to repeat the outflanking tactics which were so successful in the Takkaze battle, but the .Italian column, prosecuting mopping-up tactics, established contact with the enemy just as the latter’s advance patrol reached Abi Addi, in the Tanqua valley. The Italians attempted to encircle the Abyssinian vanguard, which actually occupied a monastery upon a hilltop at Abi Addi, hut Abyssinian reinforcements offered fierce resistance under the gallant leadership of Fitarauri Sonpere, the 12-year-old son of Has Ayalou. The action swayed backwards and forwards until the Italians launched a counter-attack which flared up into a savage hand-to-hand encounter, fixed bayonets against swords and rifle butts. The battle eventually went against the Abyssinians, when an Italian mountain battery behind the line came into action, supported by machine-guns and aerial bombardment. The infantry had already dislodged the occupants of the monastery who, with their comrades, were slowly driven back, contesting every inch of the way, into the Tanqua Valley. After six hours the maintenance of the Italian pressure converted the retreat into a flight. The Italians claim the battle gave them control of 40 square miles of a fertile area, depriving the Abyssinians of a valuable source o 7 food. Marshal Badoglio’s communiques says the enemy, favoured by the country, resisted strongly, but were defeated in a sharply-contested action. The communique announced the following casualties: Abyssinians, 700 killed, 2000 wounded; Italians, seven officers killed and six wounded; 150 askaris and 167 other ranks killed and wounded. Ras Ayalou’s troops were reinforced by: detachments under subordinate chiefs which included a machine-gun section armed with modern Belgian weapons, Marshal Badoglio says.