SOUTH ABYSSINIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 239, 9 October 1935, Page 8

SOUTH ABYSSINIA.

FACING SOMALILAND. MANNING THE FRONTIER. REMARKABLE CONVOY WORK. (By LAURENCE STALLINGS.) (Special.—B.v Air Mail.) DJIDJIGA, September 10. For the first time in 50 years, since the. long wars between Ethiopia and Italy began in 1887, this little Moslem town of Djidjiga again witnessed to-day the heartening spectacle of a Turkish general riding towards an enemy. General Wehib Pasha, the Turkish chief of staff of the southern Ethiopian Army, left early to-day with the last convoy of guerilla troops which are moving south-east to defend the watercourses facing Italian Somaliland. Spearmen and riflemen streamed past me in a motley crowd. The particular men I was watching march away were destined, I was told, to man two of the most critical points on the frontier, the oases of Gerlogubi and Goraliai.

The more important of the two spots. Gerlogubi, lies some 40 miles south and a little west of Wal Wah

In the whole region of O'gaden military activity is intense. While the nations are still de-bating peace and war in Geneva Ethiopian soldiers are rushing in lorries through the rain-soaked coun° trysido towards the south-eastern desert. 'Ihese men move with remarkable speed. They seem, too, to have mastered the technique of handling lorries quickly and well. I saw a convoy of 20 of these lorries manufactured in America just when they reached the banks of a turbulent watercourse. Incredible Mobility. Like a flash the vehicles were unloaded and the men plunged boldly into the water, which was breast-high, and actually man-handled the lorries and the loads to the other side. There they were reloaded with men and material and the whole convoy started off again without the loss of a minute. This incredible mobility reminded me of the remarkable ease of movement of bodies of cyclists in European armies. I had another talk with. Wehib Pasha before he left for the front with his convoy. Our convoy tactics," he said, "are a good example of the guerilla warfare we are going to pursue. We shall fight in the bush, where gas and aeroplanes will not be of much use to the enemy. I admit that Italian star shells will be pretty dangerous, but when it comes to the hand-to-hand fighting, as it is bound to do sooner or later in this rough country I do not think that the Italians will have anything on us. 'My Ethiopians are masters of the arme blanche, the bayonet and the sword. This thin-* has gone beyond the power of those who talk around a green table. The army impatiently awaits the Emperor's command to go forward." An Old Turkish Fighter. I like the old Turkish fighter. He is a regular type of the war horse, resplendent in his red and gold kalpak and the bright trappings of his Turkish uniform. He is fond of talking of old days, and <ne spoke to me appreciatively of the British and French troops who fought against him and the Turks in Gallipoli 20 years ago. He has less appreciation for ex-enemy officers; in fact, he referred to the army commanders in Gallipoli in most unflattering terms. He does not seem to think much of his own German ex-allies either.

If ypu ask me," he said, "the Great War only threw up two really bi" men; one was Gouraud, who left an arm in Galhpoli, and then went to the Argonne, ■where he led the Germans the devil's own dance. The other was the German Jiekl-marshal, Mackensen. I think there was not much fault to And with the way in which he overran Bumania when that country was forced into tho war on the side of the Allies."

. T , h . e g cnei ' a l_ works like fury incarnate in directing his army of Christians and Moslems, a strange mixture indeed, but eager to face the cotnmon foe. Wehib Pasha has a short way with those whom ho considers likely to hamper his military movements. He was in Harrar a little while ago and he cleared out all tho old people, and the women and children, sending them further into the interior. The troops at Ilarrar and Dijidjiga have marched forward, the result being that both these places arc now practically deserted. The old war horse knows 'better than to allow his line of possible retreat to be hampered by noncombatants. Guerillas in Every Bush. Forward in the Ogaden region patrols have pushed on to within a thousand yards of tho Italian mud fort at Wal Wal, and every bush almost conceals guerilla troops. Tho main strategic plan of Ethiopia envisages a restraining battle, or it might perhaps be better described as a heavy rearguard action north in Tigre, facing the Eritrean colony, while large operations seriously menacing tho backdoor of the Italians in Somaliland would be carried out simultaneously.

The authorities expect Italy to open hostilities and the Abyesinians arc awaiting the ilrst blow with really African patience, being keenly aware of the advantages to be gained by letting tho other side be the aggressor. They expect the war will be brief, but very bitterly fought, and will leafl to a peace which will provide something on the lines of the British proposal_ of zones of influence and a corridor joining Eritrea to Italian Somaliland. The troops themselves, of course, know nothing of recent political developments. All they know is that a fight is looming ahead, and they shout their hallelujahs on their way to" the front with their water bottles, bed sheets, rifles and bayonets. Whenever necessary, they just move their lorries forward by hand.—("Auckland Star" arid N.A.N.A.—Copyright.)