ITALIAN CLAIMS OF VICTORY REFUTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 9

ITALIAN CLAIMS OF VICTORY REFUTED.

BATTLE IN NORTH. Fierce Engagement Raging In Tembien. ABYSSINIAN AGGRESSION. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, January 24. The Italians claim complete success in the three-day battle on the northern front. Marshal Badoglio's communique states that, learning Ras Kassa had planned to launch a heavy offensive, it Avas decided to forestall the enemy who was surprised. After desperate fighting the manoeuvre ended in complete success. The Abyssinians, refuting Italy's claim of complete success in the battle on the northern front with a death roll of 2000 and the capture of 1000 Abyssinians, assert that 1700 Italians were killed and 800 soldiers, many of Austrian extraction, voluntarily surrendered.

The battle, it is said, is continuing with undiminished severity despite the Italian assertion of a nine-mile advance made on a 37-mile front. The operations began when 20,000 of the finest sinian troops massed at Madi Gliibba and marched north-west along the Gheva River to attack Askari corps protecting the Italian right flank, which many aeroplanes supported.

Thfe Italians, before launching their counter-offensive, ordered an advanced detachment to withdraw while the Air Force "spotted" the Abyssinian movements. A Black Shirt division meantime hastened to the Abaro and Alemale Passes, whence they counter-attacked the Abyssinians with heavy and medium artillery. Battle Still Raging. Despite this, however, the Abyssinians made progress on the first day. The Black Shirts were then thrown in the changing character of the battle from artillery to infantry, the engagement on the following two days constituting the fiercest engagement to date on the northern front. "The Times" Addis Ababa correspondent confirms the continuance of the battle and explains that the Abyssinian Government is withholding official details until its conclusion, but it is believed that 3000 Italians were killed and captured. The engagement is the result of an Italian endeavour not only to repel the Abyssinians but to advance the whole line southward and secure a position before the general rains set in, but] these are already hea\y and are greatly impeding the traffic Intense Fighting Reported. A copyright message to "The Times" | from Addis Ababa reports that the Abyssinians still claim a successful counter-attack after the initial Italian attack- in Tembien. The communique declares that the battle opened near Makalle oil January 20, and'that the Abyssinians, after intense hand-to-hand fighting, occupied many important Italian positions and captured large quantities of arms, ammunition, provisions and several guns, and killed thousands of Italians. The communique expresses satisfaction that Ras Desta has fallen back from Negelli, in the south, which was a dangerously advanced position, rendering supply difficult, although it is admitted that his retirement to Sidamo opens a gap permitting the Italians to clear a passage up the Ganale Dorva and Web Rivers to Mogalo and Ginir, which the Abyssinians are now reinforcing. Ras Desta denies having suffered reverses, and says he retired to the Sidamo mountains to avoid the Italian tanks. Correspondents report that Xegelli was captured after a combined attack by cavalry, whippet tanks, and armoured cars, the mechanised arms attacking frontally while the horsemen deployed on the flanks and brilliantly charged with the lance. General Graziani followed up the advance so quickly that he entered Negelli two hours after its capture. Italians Lose Initiative. The "Daily Telegraph" military correspondent, Major Temperley, interprets the northern offensive by the Abyssinians as a repetition of their successful tactics in the Dembeguina Pass affray, and as demonstrating their undiminished ability to strike when and where they like, while the Italians are thankful if they succeed in repulsing these offensives. Probably the Abyssinian casualties were much heavier than the Italian, but the maintenance of pressure ' robs the Italians of their role of invaders while the rains and the sanctions crisis come nearer and nearer.

It is officially announced from Nairobi that 380 Askari reinforcements for General Graziani deserted * into Kenya and were interned.