BLOCKING ROADS

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1936, Page 7

BLOCKING ROADS

ABYSSINIAN EFFORTS

To Stay Italian Advance

(Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) ROME, April 22.

Messages received from Abyssinia state that a battle is raging at Salla Dingai, 72 miles north-east of Addis Ababa.

Impeded by heavy rains, uec.essitating the remaking of roads, all General Graziana’s columns are advancing from the Gianagobo battlefield in order to concentrate upon Sasabanch, on the heels of Nasibu’s retreating Abyssinians, who will be given no rest, in the hope of completing the disorganisation. ADDIS ABABA, April 22.

Abyssinians claim that they repulsed further Italian attempts to advance along the Dessie-Addis Ababa road, over the Tarmarbur Mountain, subsequently routing an enemy column, during a night attack. ADDIS ABABA, April 22.

The bursting of Italian air bombs merged with the detonations of dynamite, with which the Abyssinians were hurling the road and abutments, in tons of shattered shale down the hillside, in order to block the enemy’s passage to the capital. The scene is the pass leading from Shulameda Plain, over the Tarmarbur Barrier, to the plateau on which Addis Ababa stands, 124 miles distant. Hundreds of workmen toil feverishly to divert streams to flood the roadway, which the resultant waterfalls are tearing to pieces, rendering progress of motorised units impossible. Warriors are digging pitfalls to entrap armoured cars and tanks, and constructing gun emplacements in strong posts. The first explosive charge was fired immediately 7 after the passage of the Dutch Red Cross lorries, severing communications between Dessie and Addis Ababa.

DUTCH RED CROSS.

THE HAGUE. April 22

The Dutch Red Cross, all of whose possessions in Dessie and Quoram, are in Italian hands, are quitting Abyssinia.

STORM IN THE SOUTH.

ROME, April 22

It is reported from Mogadishu that a storm on Sunday broke over the whole southern front, interrupting wireless communication, delaying flying. Flooded streams arc bringing down hundreds of Abyssinian corpses.

ROME, April 22

New war credits total £24,208,000, including, War Ministry ten millions, Home Office, one million,- the Foreign Office seven millions. The two latter cover grants to war victims and their dependents.

LEAGUE ATTITUDE

NO CHANGE YET ?

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 22.

Asked in the House of Commons what action the League of Nations proposed to take in the Balo-Ethio-pian dispute, after the new intensification by Italy of her aggression, the Foreign Secret ary (Mr A. Edenj recalled the terms of the,resolution of .the Committee of Thirteen on April 20, which set on record that the war was continuing under conditions which had been declared contrary to the Covenant, and which involved the execution of the obligations laid unon members of th e League in such case

LAWS OF WAR.

"MATT UR OF OPINION."

RUGBY, April 22

Tlip Foreign Secretary was questioned in the Commons regarding violations of the laws of war,, by both belligerents’ in East Africa. He recounted. the action taken by the League of Nations in recent weeks on this matter, and in particular the efforts made to obtain additional information which would enable the Committee of Thirteen to decide what; further steps it might appear proper to take. Mr Eden reminded the House that the Committee had already, in connection with the alleged use of poison gas, expressed to the Italian Gocvrnmeirt their opinion that the use of such cases could not In--justified as punishment for the alleged atrocities of an adversary. Pressed, in supplementary quetions to say whether the allegations on both sides were well founded,. Mr Eden said that it must be a matter of opinion whether the documentary or other evidence so far available war sufficient to establish the facts clearly. In such cases, it was necessary for a distinction to be drawn between individual acts of barbarism, it they were proved, and actions which, should they be established, would involve the responsibility of the High Command on either side. So tar a.s ho wafe awtare, everything possible had been Hone by the Ethiopian Government to provide -adequate protection. in case of need, for British ambulance units serving with the Ethiopian forces.