CONQUEST OF AMBA ARADAM

Evening Star, Issue 22272, 25 February 1936, Page 9

CONQUEST OF AMBA ARADAM

PERTINENT ANALYSIS OF VICTORY DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING ITALIAN FORGES Praia Auociitiou—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 23. Despite the Italian claim of considerable success at Amba Araclam, ‘ The Times,’ in a leader, points out that the operations, which lasted a week, culminated only in the capture of a height two or three miles from the starting point. This suggests that the resistance has been very effective or that the Italian methods are even more deliberate than those in the innumerable battles at Isonzo in 1915-17, which is a gloomy parallel for the present invasion. Moreover, if Mulugheta was routed so completely, with such disproportionate a loss, it is curious that the Italians -have not exploited the victory more strikingly instead of leaving the harrying of the beaten foe to the Air Force. The Italians have still to prove that they can move sufficiently fast in mountainous country to cut off Ras Kassa and Ras Soyoum while they advance on Amba Alagi, continuing cautiously in short stages. Even from that place it is several hundred miles to Addis Ababa. The Italians’ most promising line of advance for a decisive issue is still to Harrnr, which General Graziani attempted and stopped in order to attack Negelli. Whether they possess men and time for a successful resumption of the Harrar attack remains to be 'seen. THE MAFFEY REPORT MR EDEN'S EXPLANATION LONDON, February 24. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) Mr Eden informed the House oi Commons that he was investigating the leakage of the Maffey report, which in no way established variability or insincerity in the British policy. It was merely the report of an interdepartmental committee as a result of Italy’s inquiry as to the extent of British interests in Abyssinia. Mr Eden explained that the leakage of the Maffey report .occurred, in Paris. ITALY'S ECONOMY MEASURE SOLDIERS RELEASED FROM SERVICE LONDON, February 24. (Received February 25, at 11 a.m.) The British United Press Association’s Rome correspondent reasserts that despite denials Signor Mussolini granted leave to half a million soldiers of the 1911-13 classes serving in Italy itself, in addition to three months’ extra furlough for those assisting agriculture as a means of saving £B,OOO daily on the war bill. Well-informed quarters predict that this is a prelude to full discharge from service, based on the confident belief that the international situation will steadily improve. ABYSSINIAN RAID IMPORTANT SUCCESS CLAIMED LONDON, February 24. (Received February 25, at noon.) An Addis Ababa message claims that a large force of Ras Imru’s Gojjam raiders penetrated the Adowa-Aksum line, killed 412 white Italian soldiers, destroyed 15 munition dumps, and two depots, each containing 30 tanks. This achievement is hailed as an effective answer to the Italian story that the whole of Gojjam Province is in revolt against the Emperor. RED GROSS PLANE CRASHES ABYSSINIANS' NEXT OBJECTIVE ADDIS ABABA. February 24. (Received February 25, at 1 p.m.) Owing to failure to gain height, due to the Tariffed atmosphere, Captain Hayter, who was flying to Jijiga to bring back the body of an Egyptian, Dr Sawy, a victim of dysentery, crashed. His aeroplane caught fire and was destroyed. Captain Hayter was slightly injured in the thigh and head. His Abyssinian co-pilot, Haile Giorghis, was seriously injured. The plane was the gift of th© League of Nations Union to th© Red Cross as the result of £3,000, raised by public subscription. It had made two previous flights during which difficulty in gaining height was experienced.

The Has Imrus raid is the first Abyssinian penetration of the Adowa-Adi-grat-Aksum line. An officer said that the Italians fought bravely for a few minutes and then turned tail, many taking refuge in tanks, which the Abyssinians charged with swords, daggers, scimitars, and lances. Some Italians were surprised at Mass. The Italian lines of cornnpinication between Adowa and Eritrea will be the next objective of two Abyssinian columns. • in a note from Rome referring to Ras Imrus’s claim the spokesman declares the Addis Ababa war news is no longer worth denying. MODERN WAR MATERIAL SHIPMENT FOR SOUTHERN FRONT BERBER A, February 24. (Received February 25, at 1.130 p.m.) Six hundred tons of war material by the steamer Santa Maria, formerly.

Wendy, were transported by lorries to the southern Abyssinian border to enable Ras Desta to contend with Graziani’s mechanised units. The material includes 30 anti-tank guns, six automatic guns, 10,000 Mauser rifles, 1,200 automatic rifles, 15,000,000 cartridges, 500 gas masks, 1,000 incendiary bombs, and machinery tools. Two million cartridges are British made, and the remainder of the shipment is from Stettin. ITALY’S AIR FORCE BIG BATCH OF HEW PLANES ROME, February 24. (Received February 25, at 1.30 p.m.) Signor Mussolini is providing this year 1,500 high-speed fighting planes and bombing planes with a' speed of 250 miles an hour, and a ceiling of 30,000 ft- The fighters will carry five machine guns apiece, firing in any direction. Aircraft factories are working day and night.