CLOSING IN

Evening Post, Issue 98, 27 April 1936, Page 9

CLOSING IN

ITALIAN FORCES

THRUST TO CAPITAL

ADVANCE IN THE WEST

FORTIFIED LINE DESTROYED

DnHccl Tress Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright.

(Received April 27, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 26.

It is reported from Rome that advance troops of the Sabauda Division with the northern armies occupied Ankobcr, 80 miles from Addis Ababa, without filing a shot. The southern Italian armies have captured Hamanlei and have destroyed the Abyssinian fortified line between Dagamodo, Bullale, and Sasa Baneh. The Italian losses are computed at 38 killed and 676 wounded.

Marshal Badoglio, in a communique, claims to have occupied the whole of the Lake Tana zone. General Verne, in the west, after bitter . counter-attacks, captured Dagamodo and now is in a position ready to advance towards Dagabur. BY THE SUMMER TRAIL. A message from Dessie states that 3000 motor-lorries laden with food and munitions are concentrated there in preparation for the thrust towards Addis Ababa. A strong column which has taken a circuitous route, known as the summer trail, towards the capital is reported to be meeting with no resistance. A Rome communique says that General Agostini's troops have captured Gumagado, east of Sasa Baneh. The Abyssinian losses were heavy, a thousand dead being counted. The capture of Dagomodo is confirmed, and also the repulse of an Abyssinian counterattack. Addis Ababa reports that despite the heavy rains impeding both the Italian advance and the supplying of the Abyssinians with food, Has Kabadas's troops are nightly harrying the Italian askari division at Dessie.

General Verne's Italian column, after capturing a caravan, reached Dagamodo. The main column, pushing on towards Sasa Baneh and Dagabur, occupied Goddade and Gabrehor.

An Italian aeroplane encircled the capital at a great height. The railway station was crowded with people seeing off a Dutch ambulance unit and other Europeans who were going to Jibuti.