ROUT OF THE ABYSSINIANS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 5

ROUT OF THE ABYSSINIANS.

CARS AND MACHINE-GUNS.

WITHERING FIRE WITHSTOOD.

ANOTHER FORCE'S SUCCESS. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. Marshal Badoglio's communique appears to indicate the first major action launched by the Italians on the southern front, the purpose of which is to scatter Ras Desta's army of 60,000 men, who, for a whole month, have harassed the Italian left wing northeast of Dolo, menacing the invaders' long-contemplated advance on the Jijiga-Harrar objective. General Graziani's advance in force embraced regulars, Black Shirts, native levies, tanks, armoured cars and aircraft. It began at dawn on Monday. The first two days were occupied in engaging Abyssinian outposts, who, fighting stubbornly, fell back on their main positions. Only after wave upon wave of Somali irregulars attacked in the Dawa-Ganale-Dorya and Ganale-Dorya-Webbeshebeli sectors did the Abyssinians show signs of flinching. Armoured cars, with machine-guns, appeared at dawn on the third day, upon which the retreat developed into a flight. Hastily-dug trenches which concealed nests of machine-guns did not avail the Abyssinians, who had to withstand a withering fire. The Italians pursued the retreating warriors, advancing their line 15 miles by nightfall. The casualties have not yet been ascertained, but it is stated that the Abyssinian dead number 500 and the Italian 100.

While this battle was progressing, another Italian column, advancing from Amino, on the Ganale Dorya River, forced a section of the enemy toward the Kenya border, occupying two villages after severe fightittgr