ABYSSINIAN ADVANTAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 65, 28 December 1935, Page 5

ABYSSINIAN ADVANTAGE.

ITALIAN OUTPOSTS DRIVEN OUT. CAPTURE OF MUNITIONS. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) ADDIS. ABABA, December 27. The Government announces that troops of Dedjazmatch Haile yesterday drove Italian outposts from their positions in the Tembien region, near Makale. They captured 11 machine-guns and a quantity of rifles and ammunition. ITALIANS REPORT SUCCESS. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED. (Received This Day, 9.50 arn -| ROME, December 27. Marshal Badoglio’s communique announces the defeat of parties oc Abys sinians in the Takazze sector, wi i heavy losses. Six Italians and three Eritreans were killed. ITALIAN ’'PLANE SHOT DOWN. ABYSSINIAN’S CONCEALED IN PIT. HARAR, December 26. Abyssinian forces shot down an Italian aeroplane Dagabur. The Abyssinians, hiding in a pit, were not seen by the occupants of the machine, which swooped low, bringing it within range of rifle fire. • Two of the crew escaped. The third is reported to have been captured and decapitated. From Asmara it is reported that Italian forces defeated a band of 150 armed Abyssinians, who were crossing the Danakil desert to obtain supplies of salt. MUNITIONS FOR ETHIOPIANS. FIVE HUNDRED TONS ON WAY. LONDON, December 26. The special correspondent of the “Daily Mail” at Hargeisa says that 11 lorries passed there on the way to Abyssinia containing the first consignment of 500 tons of arms and ammuni- ' tion reported to have been landed at Berbera (British Somaliland) from British steamers. It consists of 15,000,000 rounds of ammunition, 4000 rifles and 36 anti-tank guns. A ship’s steward, a former Austrian officer, is proceeding inland to instruct the Ethiopians in the use of the anti-tank guns.

ITALY’S GOLD RESERVE. , INDICATION op exhaustion. LONDON, December 26. The Paris correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” says that the rapidity of the exhaustion of Italy’s gold reserve is indicated by the Bank of Prance return showing that the gold stock has increased by over 1*5,000,009, the bulk of which came from Italy during the week ended last I liday. Italy’s straits are proved by the recent attempt to arrange a large oil contract with Roumania, for which she offered one-third gold, one-third goods and the remainder after the war, but Roumania insisted on cash down.

The French opposition newspapers declare that financial difficulties will soon force Italy to end the war.