AKSUM REPORTED TO HAVE FALLEN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 11

AKSUM REPORTED TO HAVE FALLEN

ABYSSINIAN CHIEFS INVADE ERITREA

ITALIANS SAID TO BE USING GAS BOMBS

''■;:■■■: The Addis Ababa correspondent of the "Sun-Herald" news ~,;J agency, Mr. Noel Monks, states (according to a U.P.A. message) ";.>■' that for three days the Abyssinians at Adigrat ■withstood terrible l':£ aerial bombardments against which they were helpless to retaliate. Yesterday, however, at the Emperor's command they withdrew < wlently, and it was not until aeroplanes came over for a further raid that it was seen that the town was deserted. Claiming a victory, the Italians marched in yesterday. The Emperor has cabled to the League of Nations outlining the situation and declaring that as the Abyssinians are waging a purely defensive campaign they would . not attempt to recapture the town. Haile Selassie is still looking to. the League to save his country from the annihilation and ■■! massacre that threaten. Daring Invasion of Eritrea. '■"''■' The '"Sun-Herald" correspondent says that several powerful * ■' chiefs, acting on their own initiative, commenced a daring invasion of Eritrea, where it is reported they are making progress.. The Emperor's son-in-law, Ras Haile Selassie-.Gougsa, is actually fifty miles inside, the Eritrean border with 15,000 men. Ras Kassa, with 75,000 men, is hastening to the relief of Aksuin. His warriors, the equivalent of England's "Death or Glory Boys," once started, .will not retreat. Exchange news agency special correspondent ; with the Italians reports that Aksum fell after a short attack in which aeroplanes participated. The Italians have consolidated a Hue seventy miles long. . The British United Press correspondent at Addis Ababa says that Ras Seyoum telegraphed that he had captured an Italian colonel and 30 officers. Haile Selassie is unwilling to allow prisoners to be , brought to Addis Ababa lest they excite the population. Sufferings Under Gas Bombardment, r General Nasibu, commanderJmchfef of the southern Abyssinians, reports that the bursting of aerial bombs blanketed a wide area with thick yellow gas, causing soldiers and non-combatants to suffer painfully. He adds.that only a few troops have gas masks. and that the use of gas is incredible and revolting. i,\ It is reported by the "Sun-Herald" correspondent at Addis ' Ababa that reinforcements have been rushed to Ogadcn; where the Italians are reported already to be half-way from Somaliland towards Jijiga and Harrar. The Italians, he says, are well ahead of schedule, and unless the Erhperor gives further fighting orders the Italians will soon be linked right across lower Abyssinia from Eritrea to Somali\land. .-■;■■ P - , . ■■■-■; ... The Harrar correspondent of the British United Press agency V; | says that 2,000,000 rounds,, of ammunition have been distributed to •■;' outposts on the Ogaden front. General Mikaiel, ihc commander, ;. reports that he expects the Italian difficulties to increase when they .'■:...-. reach the waterless country they are now approaching southwards of ' Jijiga. -..':.,-• .... .■.■■■■■■■ • '-..■ ' ' ■- ' ■ ■ i ■ Native Troops Desert Italians. • • The correspondent says that despite the Italian successes, native troops are beginning to desert and 250 have joined the Abyssinians 'with five machine-guns and 12 mules loaded with ammunition. The Abyssinians are countering the Italian aerial propaganda by means of special agents wKo daily filter through the Italian lines bearing verbal messages to the askari troops from Ras Scyoum. The Italians attacking in. the Dolo district were forced to withdraw to> Somaliland. Major engagements have not occurred, _Mr. Monks reports that a terrible fate befell the crews of four Italian tanks when they ventured into Adowa. With cunning they had not^been given credit for Abyssinians had dug a mile-long scries ■•...< of lion pits, 30ft,deep, and camouflaged them in the usual way with trees and light layers of dirt. The crews of the tanks had crashed ■ to their death before the ruse was noticed: . Abyssinians Retaliate. In a later message Mr. Monks, the "Sun-Herald's" correspondent, states that, disobeying the Emperor's orders, half a million Abyssinian warriors have flung themselves at the invading Italians on the northern frontier and are fighting like madmen to retrieve the ground given up, while the Emperor's son-in-law, Ras Haile Selassie, with 15,000 men, has actually invaded Eritrea. The most startling news today is that, swooping down on three sides, the' Abyssinians have recaptured Adowa in the same manner as forty years ago. Although this information was received from high Government officials, it is riot confirmed. The Abyssinians have gone war mad, and because their action threatens the Emperor's cherished peace hopes, the veteran War Minister, Ras Moulluguetta, who fought at Adowa forty years ago, is expected to leave for the front immediately with the object of restoring discipline, but the leaders here think that matters are now out of control.

The report that the Italians have captured Aksum was piemature. The Italian 9 are preparing to deliver attacks on Aksum from the east and north on October 9 and 10. The village of Edagq Harous, ten miles cast of Adowa, has been captured. The latest reports from Ra« Kaau. arc that with 75j000 Tigre warriors he is approaching Akstun.

It is reported from Ogaden th»t the Italians art progressing in their advance towards Jijiga and Harrar, but they have not yet met the vanguard of 400,000 Abyssinians posted^on that front.