ITALIANS DENY REPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 75, 10 January 1936, Page 5

ITALIANS DENY REPORTS.

ALPINE REGIMENT DEPARTS.

MIGRATIONS AGAIN RECORDED

(Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 9

The Italian Government has issued a batch of contradictions to various anti-Italian reports, including denials of the use of poison gas, the bombing of the Egyptian Red Cross at D'aggah Bur on Saturday, and the capture by Abyssinians of Tembien. The Italians also deny there was a mutiny at Merano, declaring that all the detachments departed for the front in perfect order, amid the enthusiasm of the population. •Moreover the Government denies the reports that numerous deserters are escaping from adjoining states, pointing out the passes into Bavaria, Austria and Yugoslavia are carefully guarded. Nevertheless it is reported that a batch of 200 entered "South Germany to-day, and that there are now 3000 in Bavaria.

THREE TATTERED CAPTIVES.

ITALIAN MORALE AT LOW EBB

DESSYE, January 8

An Italian doctor, a. mechanic and a machine-gunner attached to the tank corps, who were captured in recent fighting, have arrived by air. They were wearing soleless shoes and tattered clothing and they declared that they wished the war had never started. The mechanic referred to the low ebb of the Italian morale and extolled the dauntless courage of the Abyssinians, whose fighting was a revelation.