FALSE CLAIMS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 11

FALSE CLAIMS

ITALIAN ADVANCE

THE LINE IN OCtADEN

STATEMENT BY SELASSIE

LULL ON ALL BATTLE FRONTS

United Press Association —By Electrlo Tclograpli—Copyright. (Received November 23, 11 a.m.)^ LONDON, November 22. ' "The Italians have never achieved the advances they claim towards the south," declared the Emperor in a written statement of his aerial tour given to'the British United Press agency's correspondent. "Actually they are still near the Walwal-Gora-hai-Gerlogubi line occupied a monlh ago. The Abyssinians are still to the south of Sasa Baneh, which the Italians falsely claimed they had captured. The operations in the Ogaden have demonstrated that the Abyssinians are capable of resisting modernised troops and even defeating them. The courage of the Ethiopians compensates for their lack of equipment. They would unquestionably have preferred to throw themselves upon the enemy, but they understand the necessity of dominating our strategic positions. Bombing from the air has not had the least effect on the morale of the troops or the inhabitants. The effects of bombing are very meagre. For example, hundreds of bombs have been dropped on Gorahai, yet our losses have been only seventeen killed or seriously wounded." The Emperor explained that the purpose of his flight was not to encourage the troops—that was unnecessary— but to learn the needs and see for himself the actual military situation. HEAVY RAIN IN OGADEN. The lull on all battle fronts is more pronounced in Ogaden, whence the latest messages report that, heavy rain has rendered unmade tracks impassable. The "Daily Mail's" special correspondent at Gargeisa says that the Emperor's visit is stated to coincide with an elaborate plan to attempt to encircle the Italians on the outskirts of Sasa Baneh. It is reported that Ras Desta's men have cut the road from Mogadishu, from which important Italian supplies are now undeliverable. A belated Addis Ababa communique reporting a successful Abyssinian night, attack between Makale and Hauzien probably refers to the engagement cabled on Novembers 20, and adds that 300 Italians, 200 rifles, and three machine-guns were captured. ITALIAN CONVOY ATTACKED. A copyright message from Harrar states that a Bagabur wireless message reports that Abyssinian advance guards attacked a convoy of 70 Itaiian lorries -Which were transporting Somali infantry near Bulale in the Fafan Valley, and captured 63, killing and wounding the majority of the occupants, although- the officers escaped. The Abyssinian casualties were heavy.