ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 76, 26 September 1941, Page 5

ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN

FANNING OF REVOLT

ADVENTURES OF BRITISH MILITARY MISSION

RUGBY, September 24,

Brigadier D. A. Sandford told a story that is comparable with tb^e adventures of Lawrence of Arabia when he described today the work of the British military mission during the early days of the Abyssinian campaign. " The Italians, he said, had never been able to complete. the pacification of the country, and the -most important centre of disturbance was the Gojjam area under the 'chieftain Ras Araba Argi, near Lake Tsana, in the west country. The "Abyssinian patriots had been struggling for four years against the Italians, however, and they were growing tired, while and at the same time Britain followed the policy of giving no offence to Italy till that country actually entered the war.

The mission which was later sent consisted of Brigadier Sandford, Captain R. Critchley, Lieutenant Drew, R.A.M.C, and Signallers Grey and Whitmore. Their first purpose was to spread revolt, but not too quickly* Contact had to be made with the leaders and assistance arranged, as well as the operations co-ordinated.

With the Emperor's representative, Azazh, Kahada, and 50 muleteers and mules, they crossed the frontier on August 12, 1940, and were soon warned that the Italians knew they were coming. They had started in the middle of the rainy season, at tlje time when the Italians had been gaining successes on the British frontiers and France had signed the armistice. So conditions were not too favourable.

CONTACT WITH ITALIANS.

Eight major rivers in flood had to be crossed, also innumerable small streams, and the weather was terribly hot. They pushed on, not using any regular tracks. They had with them 2000 Maria Theresa dollars, worth less than £200, and they were able to borrow 2500 more in the country.

The Italian Colonel Torelli, with the best part of a brigade, appeared on the morning on which they arrived among assembled patriots, and when they had just read the Emperor's proclamation. The decamped and hid in a cave while the Italians dropped bombs from a cliff above. No harm was done, and when eventually Colonel Torelli brought forward mechanised forces the patriots were ready for them.

Brigadier Sandford made a forced march over mountaihs .4000 feet high to start further trouble in the west, and the Italians were unable to make effective opposition. In January, 1941, the Emperor himself arrived in Abyssinia, and Brigadier Sandford became his military and political adviser.—■ 8.0. W.