FIGHTING IN ABYSSINIA

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1935, Page 9

FIGHTING IN ABYSSINIA

ITALIANS ENDEAVOURING TO WIN OVER ABYSSINIANS POLITICALLY

ADVANCE ON THE SOUTHERN FRONT

. A United Press Association message from' London slates that the lull on the northern battlefront in Abyssinia is maintained. Prodigious roadmaking is being performed by Colonel Riccardi, and 500 Italian engineers, working day and night, have completed a motor road, with by-passes, to Adowa. An extra ration of wine has been distributed to the troops to render more palatable the African food, for which the soldiers are sacrificing spaghetti. It is believed that the*ltalians will not advance further until Marshal Badoglio has conferred with the Commander-in-Chief, General de Bono. The latter formally entered Adowa and unveiled' a marble column brought from Italy, inscribed "To the dead of Adowa. Avenged 5/10/1935 —XIII." The Roman numerals indicate the thirteenth year of the Fascist era. Weekend reports make it clear that the 12,000 troops who were, reported on Saturday to have surrendered to General Santini oh the northern front were under the leadership of the Emperor's son-in-law, Degiac Haile Selassie Gougsa, who was incorrectly reported previously as having been killed-at Adowa. Degiac Kassa Araia surrendered with him. The British United Press representative at Adowa says thai Gougsa, who is 27 years of age, is tasting the joys, of his new allegiance by shopping extensively at Adowa's best shop. He rides in an Italian car and is wearing a huge revolver, a Sam Browne belt, and red striped trousers. Further Submissions. It is reported from Adigrat that an additional "column of a thousand Abyssinian warriors arrived at the Italian front line with new Belgian rifles and threw in their lot with the invaders, their chief stating that the Governor of Western Tigre, with 20,000 men and twenty machine-guns, was also anxious to desert, but feared Ras Seyoum's revenge. A message from Harrar states that the Somali chief Samatani joined the Abyssinians with 2000 followers. Other pro-Italian chiefs were not so lucky as .Gougsa, a report- from Addis Ababa announcing that seven Somali leaders possessing large sums of Italian currency were shot as spies. An Abyssinian army under the Crown Prince is concentrating in the area from Sokota to Amba Ahaji, 120 miles southward of the Italian front. A report from Asmara states that according to Abyssinians who deserted with Ras Gougsa, Makale, the centre of the Tigre Province, which is believed to be Italy's next big objective, now lacks communication with Addis Ababa. The Italian line on the northern front now stretches straight from a point 12 miles east of Adigrat to "8 miles north of Aksum, and is manned by about 60,000 troops. It is recognised in Asmara that the main Abyssinian resistance so far has been barely felt. The Italians meanwhile are endeavouring to improve their position by political methods such as those employed in winning over Gougsa. It is reported from Harrar, however, that Somali troops are daily deserting to Abyssinia. On the Ogaden Front. A message from Harrar states that eleven aeroplanes bombed Gerlogubi and that 36 Abyssinian infantrymen taking refuge in a dug-out were buried alive when detonations caused the shelter to collapse. Aircraft operating in the Danakil area near the eastern frontier bombed many villages and there were many casualties. The British United Press correspondent at Harrar reports that the Ogaden front was aflame on Saturday, Italian bombers wiping out villages.and the artillery..firing, while Abyssinian rifle-fire rippled down the scattered lines at infantry advancing up the Webbe Shibeli River, gradually forcing the defenders from the precious water-holes and driving wedges from the north and south between the three main defending forces. ' Survivors from the fighting continue to declare that the Italians are using gas and that chemicals are laying waste the .country. Refugees pitifully streaming into Harrar declare that the assailants are not attempting to locate the defenders* but are bombing recklessly^ in thejiope of smashing the Abyssinian morale. . Many women were killed. Decisive Battle Imminent. The Italians heavily bombed from the air, and set on fire, the old castle of Fort Dagnere, adjoining the fortified village of Degabanko, both of which are on the left bank of the Webbe Shibeli River in a strategic position overlooking the plain. The Abyssinian general Nassibou, Governor of Harrar, declares that before the Italians conquer that area they will have to kill everyone. It is obvious that a decisive battle on the Ogaden front is imminent. . A Rome message says that the Italians are only 50 miles from Harrar. Mr. Noel Monks, the "Sun-Herald" Agency's 'Addis Ababa correspondent, says that so close is the military censorship there that no word of happenings on the frontier has been'given out for. four days and hostility to journalists is becoming worse daily. Twice on Saturday British journalists were attacked by fanatical natives hear the Press Bureau.