PROGRESS OF WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 155, 14 April 1936, Page 5

PROGRESS OF WAR

ITALIAN ADVANCE CONTINUES. TRICOLOUR AT LAKE TSANA. CUSTOMS POST OCCUPIED. United Press Association-'Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) ROME, April 13. Marshal Badoglio in a communique says: “The victorious advance of our troops continues in various sectors on the northern front. One column from Gondar yesterday occupied the Peninsula of Gorgoora on Lake Tsana anrl hoisted the tricolour. Lake Tsana has been linked with Gondar by lorry on a road constructed simultaneously with the advance. The troops of another column occupied an Abyssinian customs post in front of Gallabat, west of Gondar.

IN THE SAME TOWN. BRITISH AND ITALIAN TROOPS. ON INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY. (Received This Day, 1.6 p.m.) ASMARA, April 13. It is officially explained that the Italians occupied Metemma, which is the local name of the Ethiopian half of the town of which the Sudanese portion is called Gallabat. British Army and Air Force units are stationed there. Thus English and Italian troops are in the same town, separated by the dry bed of the River Abnrofara, which is the international boundary. ITALY’S TACTICS FOR DELAY. TIME FOR MARCH ON DESSYE. REFUSAL OF PEACE UNDER LEAGUE. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 12. The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Signor Mussolini is likely to adopt further delaying tactics. in connection, with the peace negotiations, in order to gain time for a march on Dessye. If the Committee of Thirteen condemns the Italians’ use 'of gas, Italy will refuse to discuss peace under League auspices and may even withdraw from Geneva. Meanwhile, as a reply to the allegations regarding poison-gas Marshal Badoglio has proclaimed that slavery has been abolished in Tigre, Amhara and Gojjam. BRITISH ATTACHE INVALIDED. exposure on errand of MERCY. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) DJIBOUTI, April 13. Colonel H. B. Holt (British military attache at Addis Ababa) left for Eng land to undergo an operation for a complaint resulting from exposure on a long trek through difficult country m search of two Italian airmen who were brought down near Dessye. The Italians were found dead. ITALIANS CLAIM SUCCESS.

ARMS AND MUNITIONS TAKEN. ROME, April 11. Marshal Badoglio’s communique states: —“Tribesmen advancing south of Gormat ambushed the Abyssinian rearguard, resulting in an action in which the enemy left' 400 dead. The tribesmen captured an entire transport column. “The third army corps, advancing from Scoto, found quantities of hidden abandoned arms and munitions and numerous uniforms of the Imperial Guards, discarded to assist the escape. The Italians have reached Waldia, the Libyan cavalry forming the advance guard. “The Italian drive along the Sudanese frontier has reached Gallabat, 70 miles west of Gondar, with which it is parallel.” ATTACKS' ON RED CROSS. DUTCH DOCTOR’S REPORT. LONDON, April 12. The Hague correspondent of “The Times” says that Dr. Van Schelven, describing the misfortunes of the Dutch Red Cros3 in Abyssinia, says that he himself was wounded by two rifle shots in an encounter with bandits north of Dessye, in which 17 of the Red Cross guard that the Emperor Haile Selassie had supplied were killed. The doctor adds that the message was written in a grotto where, in accordance with Selassie’s suggestion, his, like other ambulances, is taking refuge from repeated bombardments.