ROAD TO HARRAR NOW OPEN HORRORS OF OGADEN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 116, 12 November 1935, Page 11

ROAD TO HARRAR NOW OPEN

HORRORS OF OGADEN

'•THE YELLOW HELL" GRAVEYARD DESERT ADEN, November 10. Mr. Noel Monks, the "Sun-Herald" agency's correspondent, says: "Carrying out a plan formulated at Addis Ababa witli a young Belgian gun-run-ner, I posed as his assistant and succeeded in penetrating 100 miles beyond Jijiga into the Ogaden, "The Yellow Hell." "When our caravan reached the last civilised outpost, Jijiga, I had my first glimpse of Ogaden's horrors. In a small hospital I saw 400 Abyssinians dying from every sickness from malaria to leprosy. One lone medical man, Dr. Hickm.-in, an American, was fighting heroically for their lives. Two days before I arrived 50 died from cholera. "Fifty miles beyond Jijiga there is nothing but a desert of sand and stones for 300 miles into Italian Somaliland. We pushed on in. terrific heat to Warroh, which is the last connecting link with the front line, which is 150 miles further across the desert. Six weeks ago the Warroh outpost numbered 5000 men, but I was shown the graves of 1200 who died from sickness. Giant' buzzards swarmed black over the sandy mounds where lay some of Abyssinia's fittest, bravest, and youngest men, who never even fired a shot in the war. A young Abyssinian officer, who refused to allow us to proceed further, told me that Italians were dying in even greater numbers than Abyssinians. I was told that the Abyssinians had surrounded all known water holes within an area of 200 miles, and that what they could not hold they would poison. The Italians had definitely not advanced any further than in the first weeks of hostilities. "Returning to Jijiga I passed through British Somaliland and embarked at Zeila, • arriving here today. I will return to Australia by the Orford. lam satisfied Signor Mussolini will never conquer Abyssinia." ON GOLD BASIS ONLY RUMANIAN OIL TO ITALY BUCHAREST, November 10. M. Osiceanu, president of the Rumanian Petroleum Industry Associa-

ITALIANS REPORTED ON OUTSKIRTS OF DAGABUR FURTHER GROUND WON IN NORTH (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received November 12, noon.) LONDON, November 11. Most of this mornings war dispatches deal with the reported arrival of Italians on the outskirts of Dagabur after the capture of Sasa Ba;ieh. There is some incredulity that ordinary forces could have made an unprecedented advance of a hundred miles in seven days in such country, and it is suggested that the feat is attributable to the fleets of light tanks. Columns under General Fruschi and Colonel Maletoo have adequately garrisoned Sasa Baneh. Extensive air bombing, aided by the burning off of bush by incendiary bombs, prepared the way for the invaders' advance on Dagabur. From the Italian military standpoint, the fall of Gorahai is one of the most serious blows to Abyssinia, endangering the whole zone, reserves, and concentrations between Sasa Banch, Harrar, and Jijiga, giving the Italians command of wells which are indispensable for the troops, and opening a direct route to Harrar along the Fafan Valley. ABYSSINIAN PENETRATION IN SOUTH. The British United Press agency's Harrar correspondent says it is reported that Ras Desta, with a strong force, has penetrated into Italian Somaliland behind Dolo in order to attack General Graziani's troops in the rear, and that afterwards he will try to join Kas Nasibu. Meanwhile unconfirmed reports from Rome state that Ras Nasibu's troops mutinied and murdered him. A Rome communique declares that the chief Abd cl Krim, the late Mullah's son, commanding important racial groups at Bagheri, in the Ogaden, surrendered at Gorahai. A message from Rome confirms that the Abyssinians are massing at Ambu Alagi, but an unofficial message from Addis Ababa says that the Abyssinians are in full retreat on the northern and southern fronts. The capture of Antalo, 30 miles north of Amba Alagi, is also reported. An Addis Ababa message states that Ras Nasibu indignantly denies the story of his assassination. PURPOSE AT JIJIGA. The Italians in the southern sector are strongly pressing: on towards Jijiga in order to cut off supplies coming from British Somaliland, but it is too early to interpret the advance as a definite mass manifestation against Harrar, although this must be the invaders' ultimate objective. 1 Stores and transport animals captured by the Italians at Sasa Baneh, which Haile Selassie does not yet admit he has lost, are substantial, though not equal to those secured at Gorahai.

tion, informed the Minister of Finance that further export of oil to Italy in accordance with the commercial treaty of 1934 is impossible. On behalf of the association, which includes interests of leading British and American companies, M Osiceanu announced that payment on a gold basis at any point desired by the exporter was the only basis of future sales to Italy. VIGILANCE IN ITALY ANTI-PROFITEERING ECONOMY CAMPAIGN ROME, November 11. The most active part in Italy's antisanctions campaign at present is the fight to prevent an increase in food prices for which every Fascist group has initiated v a vigilance committee to visit shops and ensure that goods are not sold above regulation prices even to the extent of a fraction of a penny in a shilling. • Groups publish "black lists" of profiteers whose shops have been closed. Despite reassurances by the authorities, most people able to afford the expenditure are laying in stocks of provisions, leading to fears of panic and hoarding. Signor Mussolini's economy timetable in Government offices for saving electric • light has produced a curtailment of shopping hours. Theatres and cinemas are also advancing their hours, finishing at 11.30 p.m. instead of 1 a.m. Conforming to this "early-to-bed" movement while doing normal work necessitates Italians sacrificing their siesta. PEACE 3IEDAL TO ALOISI SERVICES IN SAAR PROBLEM AMSTERDAM, November 11. There is sarcastic comment on the Dutch Union for the League of Nations and Peace bestowing the Hugo Crotrius Peace Medal for 1935 on Baron Aloisi. It is pointed out, however, that it is awarded for his services in the solution of the Saar problem. Baron Aloisi was the Italian delegate at the League of Nations discussions on the Italo-Abyssinian dispute.