CLASH REPORTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 81, 30 December 1935, Page 9

CLASH REPORTED

Frontier of Libya and Egypt BRITISH PRECAUTION Withdrawing Troops From Frontier Post By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, December 27. The “Sun-Herald” agency says that the situation in Libya is not improving. It is reported that Signor Jlussolini lias ordered a crack mechanised Trento division of 18,000 men to prepare to cross the Jlediterranean to the Egyp-tian-Libyan border. An Italian steamer secretly left Leghorn last week, ostensibly for Italian Somaliland, but she carried guns and mechanised vehicles for Tripoli and the Italian border. These movements are interpreted as Italy’s first precautionary measures following the breakdown of the HoareLaval Plan. Jleanwhile, as a result of the reported clash between Italian and Egyptian troops on the Libyan frontier, the British Egyptian authorities have decided to evacuate the frontier post at Solium to avoid the possibility of provocative hostile incidents. The British forces will henceforth be based at Jlersa Jlatruh, 120 miles from the Italian-Cyreuaican frontier. FURTHER FIGHTING Abyssinian Pressure SIDES CLAIM SUCCESSES (Received December 29, 7.25 p.m.) London, December 28. Official circles at Addis Ababa assert that Italians have nearly completed a withdrawal from Shire westward of Aksum and that, the Abyssini;>ns have invested Jlakale on three sides. An Asmara message, however, states that after the penetration to Shire, an Abyssinian attempt to cross the Takkaze River at Maitimchet was heavily frustrated, and the attackers retreated scattered. Determined to hold Gagah Pass as the key to Selaclaca, Italians telephoned to Aksum for reinforcements and aircraft soon ended the Abyssinians' enterprise. A communique from Jlarshal Badoglio announces the defeat of parties of Abyssinians in the Takkaze sector, with heavy losses. Six Italians and three Eritreans were killed. Jlarshal Badoglio's communique records the northernmost dash since the fall of Aksum. Abyssinians maintain pressure and claim to have captured Abi Addi, the capital of Tembien, driv ing out Askaris with heavy loss. The Abyssinian Government announces that troops under Dedjasmatch I-lailu drove Italian outposts from positions in the Tembien region, near Jlakale, and captured 11 machineguns and a quantity of rifles and ammunition.