EAST AFRICAN CONFLICT

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 9

EAST AFRICAN CONFLICT

ABYSSINIAN VICTORY REPORTED •• GREATEST YET ACHIEVED " Press Association — By Telegraph—Copyright ASMARA, January 27. Though the Italians reiterate that they remain in undisputed possession of the battlefield, the Dessye correspondent of ‘The Times ’ records the greatest Ethiopian success yet achieved. The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ Addis Ababa correspondent says: “The Abyssinians persist in claiming a victory, and assert that they severed the Italian communications with Makale.” The ‘ News-Chronicle’s ’ Dessye correspondent says: “Marshal Badoglio not only failed to relieve the relentless enemy pressure at Makale, but was driven back to a fortified position at Gheralta in a clash of primitive barbaric strength against the death-deal-ing mechanism of modern science.” The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ Addis Ababa correspondent says: “The Italians were routed, though numerically superior.” BIGGEST BATTLE SINCE THE WAR BEGAN LONDON, January 27. - (Received January 28, at 11 a.m.) Correspondents describe as desperate the fighting in Tembien in the biggest battle since the war began. Engagements were fought in one of the most mountainous regions in the northern front. The Black Shirts, who were entrenched in key positions, adopted what Marshal Badoglio describes as an “ offensive of defence.” The Abyssinians recklessly attacked in wave upon wave. They were sprayed from the ground and bombed from the air until their bodies were heaped up in front of the Italian machine gun emplacements. Undeterred they stepped over their fallen comrades in an endeavour to break the opposing line. The ‘ Daily Mail ’ states that the Black Shirts, with a bayonet charge and the battle cry of “Savoia!” finally repulsed the' Abyssinians, thus in the words of Rome establishing the prestige of the white Italian combatants.