ITALIAN SUCCESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 72, 7 January 1936, Page 5

ITALIAN SUCCESS

ON THE SOUTHERN FRONT.

EFFECTIVENESS O/F AEROPLANES

SKIRMISHES IN THE NORTH

(United Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 6. A message from Dessye says that General Graziani's aircraft, operating on the southern border of Abyssinia, proved the deciding- factor in a 24-hour conflict on January 1 between askaris and several thousand of Ras Destas' troops in the area between Lake Huku and the Calanedorya River, 20 miles north of Dolo.

General Badoglio claims the destruction of an Abyssinian camp, 150 defenders being killed, including a chieftain, and 100 wounded, including 40 prisoners, with the loss of one Italian and four askaris killed, and 15 askaris wounded.

The askaris launched the attack, firing volleys from machine-guns and rifles from 20 armoured cars. The Abyssinians were protected by a double line <of trenches, and fought desperately all the way to prevent encircling. Skirmishes continued throughout the night developing into bloody hand-to-hand encounters. Aeroplanes showed that the Italians were almost sujrrolunding: the Abyssinian position. The aeroplanes then swooped down and bombed the Abyssinians, whose disordered ranks were finally scattered by the askaris charging behind whippet tanks. A burst of fire immobilised an armoured car, but the crew held out, firing at the surrounding Abyssinians until an askari charge rescued them. The victors pursued the fugitives and captured Amino, a village in the Malkagoto district. This is the first action in the southern area in which an Italian life has been lost. In the northern area, General Badoglio, while admitting that two Italians and two askaris were killed and four wounded, claims success in patrol skirmishes. He does not state the Abyssinian losses. COMPENSATION FOR SANCTION LONDON, January 5. The Jugaslav Cabinet is reported to have approved the results of negotiations recently concluded with Britain, during the visit to London of M. Pilja, head of the Foreign Trade Department of the Jugoslav Ministry for Commerce and embodied in a declaration of unilateral concessions by Britain in favour of Jugoslav farm produce. The considerations which, weighed with the British Government in granting these exceptional concessions in accordance with the mutual support undertaking contained in Article 1G of the League, was the particular hardship Jugoslavia has suffered in carrying out her part in economic sanctions on Italy, which normally represents her best market.

The concessions granted by Britain in this agreement are unilateral. They provide for added facilities for the marketing of Jugoslav farm produce in Britain, and include:— (1) Bacon—an additional allowance of 400 cwt a week.

(2) Eggs—free entry, limited to an allowance at the rate of 200,000 cwt per annum. (3) Turkeys (dead)—a reduction of duty from 3d to Id per lb, limited to a quantity of 60,000 cwt per annum. (4) Chickens (dead)—a reduction of duty from 3d to Id per lb, limited to an allowance at the rate of 20,000 cwt per annum.—British Official Wireless.

RUSSIAN VIEW OF SPEECH. REFERENCES SPECIFIED. MOSCOW, January 5. • "Mr Roosevelt's words cannot fail to meet a response in all countries that are striving for peace," says the newspaper "Izvestia," "and in countries which have become nests of the war spirit his words on the spirit of autocracy and aggression will ring loud. It is not difficult to guess that ho meant Italy, Japan and Germany." The article expresses the opinion that the Neutrality Bill will make it possible for the League of Nations to pursue its activities toward peace.