ADVANCE OF 15 MILES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 110, 5 November 1935, Page 9

ADVANCE OF 15 MILES

ITALIANS IN TIGRE

OFFENSIVE RESUMED AT DAWN

SYSTEMATIC PLAN OF ACTION

ABYSSINANS" STILL FALLING BACK

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received November 5, noon.) I^ONDON, November 4. A report from Asmara states that the Italian line advanced fifteen miles yesterday. The Abyssinians are retiring before the Italians, who resumed the movement at dawn today; midget tanks advancing ahead of the columns. Villagers waving white flags and women shrieking a welcome greet the troops, and large herds of cattle which have been carefully concealed are being brought out and sold to the Italians. Officials at Addis Ababa, it is stated, admit that once the Italians . reach Makale resistance will be no longer delayable. After the occupation of Hauzicn General Biroli's askari troops, whose flanks, in accordance with the systematic plan o£ advance, were well protected, occupied the heights to the south-west, while General Santini's Black Shirts crowned those to the south-cast, General Santini's main force pushing on along the Via Inglese. This means that the Italian advance guards are well south of Hauzien dominating the high lands above Gheralta. The populace of Mender, south-east of Hauzien, welcomed the incoming Black Shirts. The Sabauda division, a portion of General Santini's command, is supporting the advance towards Amba Alagi, where definite resistance is prophesied. RUMOURS CONCERNING OGADEN. The usual rumours prevail regarding the impending Italian offensive in the Ogadcn area, but the only definite news is that the Gorahai field wireless station is still functioning, despite the discharge of a thousand bombs from Italian aeroplanes. A mesage from Addis Ababa states that 30 women and 15 children are reported to have been killed in an intensive. Italian air bombardment near Gorahai. Major-General Temperley, in the "Daily Telegraph," summing up the position in Abyssinia, points out' that the Italians, as the result of a month's warfare, have advanced practically unopposed for sixty miles. A prolonged period will be required for consolidation when MakaLc is reached. . The rate of advance is no reflection on the staff or the troops. It merely indicates the intense caution as the result of the unforgotten ■ lesson of IS3G. ' ;