HOSTILITIES BEGIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 235, 4 October 1935, Page 7

HOSTILITIES BEGIN

OFFENSIVE TOWARD ADOWA.

AIR SQUADRONS TAKE OFF AT DAWN. ETHIOPIA TO AVOID FRONTIER BATTLE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 3. The correspondent of the British United Press with the Italian forces in Eritrea says hostilities are reported to have commenced with an Italian bombardment of Adowa. Following upon all-night activity Italian troops crossed the frontier preceded by skirmishing parties armed with machine gfcins at widely separated points, and converged on Adowa. Ten thousand troops advanced toward the frontier and crowds cheered their departure from the Italian headquarters at Asmara. Church bells had been ringing all night. Searchlights swept the sky continuously. The Italian Commander, General Bono, moved the headquarters of the General Staff nearer to the front. Squadrons of bombers and fighters took off at dawn for Adowa, including the Cianos, known as " the desperate squadron." Signor Mussolini's two sons were among the pilots. The Sun-Herald correspondent at Addis Ababa, Mr. Noel Monks, reports that war has started. The Emperor was officially informed that the Italians had bombarded Adowa this morning. When His Majesty communicated this news to 20,000 natives in the Palace grounds they went howling and yelling toward the town, and now Addis Ababa is like a volcano just erupted. High officials say that even if Adowa is razed it will not affect the plan of campaign which is to avoid frontier engagements and draw the Italians into the interior. It is not expected that the Emperor will immediately declare war. There are 400,000 Abyssinians along the Adowa frontier. The Emperor said many women and children had been killed in the Italian bombardment. A special train has been ordered to be ready by the Italian Minister and Legation. Every man in Addis Ababa is to be put under arms immediately. The Consul at Adowa has been arrested. It is expected that the Italian Minister at Addis Ababa will be handed his passport to-morrow. It is stated in a late message from Addis Ababa that Italian troops who were advancing at Agame, between Adowa and Adigrat, were defeated. Anti-Italian feeling in Addis Ababa has reached fever pitch. The Emperor on appearing on the balcony at the palace was frenziedly cheered by crowds of people, many of whom drew swords and revolvers.

A message from Toulouse says the police were obliged to protect 50 Italians who were returning to Italy to answer the call to arms. They were mobbed by angry French demonstrators.