TO STRIKE BACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1935, Page 7

TO STRIKE BACK.

OPERATION IN OGADEN. ABYSSINIANS CONCENTRATING. ITALIANS STILL ADVANCE IN NORTH. United Press Association.—Copyright.—Roe. 1 p.m. LONDON, October 15. The British United Press correspondent at Harrar reports that, following yesterday's War Council, Dedjazmatch Nassibu ordered a general Abyssinian offensive on the Ogaden front. A Jibouti message says that 100,000 Abyssinian warriors passed through Harrar to Ogaden from the fierce Kaffa Dechima tribes. The correspondent adds that unexploded Italian 1001b gas 'bombs were brought from Ogaden. Dr. Vockman, an American Red Cross worker, reports that Italian aeroplanes are using dumdum bullets. An Asmara dispatch says 1 500 Abyssinians who surrendered will be incorporated in the Sela Division now en route to Eritrea. They are armed with modern Japanese rifles and have 150 machine guns. The Aksum correspondent of the paper "Lavoro Fascista" declares that Ras Seyoum is preparing a counter-attack with the object of recapturing the city. The Abyssinian attempts to cross the Setit River were heavily repulsed. "The Times" Addis Ababa correspondent says the Italian air reconnaissance continues, the southernmost point reached being Alagi, 62 miles south of Makale, to which the invaders have progressed half-way from the Adowa-Adigrat line. Lack of Medical Services. The Abyssinian Government is most disturbed at the reports of Degiac Haile Silassie Gugsa's surrender and cannot believe that this young chief of a great house could have played the traitor. At Adigrat the Italian left wing is progressing southwards, meeting with little opposition. The Daily Mail Addis Ababa correspondent says the northern Abyssinian armies are suffering greatly from lapk of medical services, and 100 died of wounds at Aksum owing to lack of doctors. The British United Press correspondent at Alexandria says Prince Ismail Daoud left for Addis Ababa with three Egyptian doctors to organise medical aid for Abyssinia.