ITALIAN WARFARE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 79, 15 January 1936, Page 5

ITALIAN WARFARE

INCENDIARISM AND GAS.

ALLEGATIONS BY ABYSSINIANS.

FATAL BURNING OF A CHURCH.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON 1 , January 12.

The Addis Ababa correspondent of "The Times" says that the AbyssinianSj repeating their previous accusations of incendiarism aYid the employment of gas bombs by the Italians, assert that the latter set fire to Sakota after the evacuation on Friday. The fire destroyed the Church of St. Mary, killing or injuring 10 members of the congregation. The blinding of ten and the burning of eight citizens was the result of the dropping of three bombs believed to contain mustard gas. RED CROSS MARKSMEN. AN ITALIAN ALLEGATION. ACTION IN BOMBING RAID.

(Received This Day, 11.&5 a.m.) LONDON, January 14

The Rome correspondent of "The Times" says that an Asmara message has been received stating that during the Italian bombardment of an unspecified place at an unstated time, all the men belonging to an Abyssinian Red Cross unit took part in firing upon the attacking aircraft. PRISONERS WELL TREATED. DENIAL OF DECAPITATION. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, January 14. Ras Nasibu sent a letter to General Graziani denying that prisoners were decapitated, and stating *hat all were honourable treated.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

MUSSOLINI'S. AIRMAN. SON

(Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) ASMARA, January 14

Villiorio Mussolini (son of The Duce) narrowly escaped when his 'plane was hit by an anti-aircraft shell during a bombing raid on Attibfl Aradani. The cabin door was smashed. Mussolini managed to land the 'plane. He was not hurt.

DAVIS CUP BOYCOTTED.

ITALIAN TENNIS ASSOCIATION

(Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) ROME, January Li

The Italian Lawn Tennis Association has decided not to take part in the Davis Cup contest and requested clubs not to invite individual players from sanetionist countries to visit Italy.

REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION.

ITALY'S LATEST PROPOSAL.

FRENCH OPPOSITION HARDENS

LONDON, January 14. It is understood that Singor Cerutti conveyed to M. Laval Signor Mussolini's request for his support of the appointment of a league committee of investigation to proceed to Abyssinia. Apparently Signor Mussolini hopes that the committee's report conditions on the spot might lead to the basis of a settlement acceptable to Italy.

Responsible French opinion, however, does not favour the proposal. Anti-Italian feeling is steadily hardening, while M. Laval himself is disinclined to make further initiative without real hope of success. It is pointed out that Signor Mussolini's proposal lies in the indication that whatever Signor Mussolini may be saying at home, he is now speaking a very different language abroad. It is also held to show that Signor Mussolini's preference for forcible methods has been diminished by their hitherto unfruitful and unpleasant consequences. A "COMBATANT SPORT." RUGBY ADOPTED BY ITALIANS. ROME, Jan. 13. Owing to rugby's "well-defined characteristics as a combatant sport," Young Fascist combatant groups have adopted it as an obligatory sport for nation-wide competition.