HARDER PRESSED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 9

HARDER PRESSED

Enemy On Abyssinian Fronts REBELS USING ARMS FROM BRITISH LONDON, December 26. The Italians in Abyssinia are being harassed from without and from within. On the northern border Imperial troops from the Sudan arc repeatedly ambushing Italians and waylaying any of their columns which may become too venturesome. At first the British tactics were meant to keep the Italians in the positions they occupied, but now they are having the effect of pushing them slowly back. On the southern border there is also continual harrying by the British forces in Kenya. Inside Abyssinia the Italians have to contend with growing and increasingly effective opposition from the people they have conquered. It is reported by the correspondent of “The Times” at Nairobi, that thousands of Abyssinians, whose secret headquarters are in the forests and hills _of southern Abyssinia, are attacking their oppressors. For a long time they could obtain modern weapons only by making a successful raid on an Italian outpost Now Britain is implementing her promise to give them all possible assist [nice. Some of the most prominent leaders of the irregular Abyssinian forces have recently made contact with British officers, bringing with them evidence of successful encounters, including the uniforms and equipment of Italian officers. These leaders report having carried out many ambushes on the Italian lines of communication. One victim of a surprise attack was an Italian provincial commissioner whose column was ambushed and whose documents were brought to a British post. The Italians are afraid to move in many areas unless they are heavily escorted. Guerrillas on. a road to the south of Addis Ababa, ambushed two companies of colonial infantry, and killed 80, including four Italians. A whole battalion of Italians was sent to punish the guerrillas, but it also was ambushed and 50 were killed. There is ample evidence that thousands of Abyssinians are rapidly ' becoming better armed in preparation for Italy’s day of reckoning.