FIERCE FIGHTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 278, 22 October 1935, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHTING

ON SOUTHERN FRONT. ITALIANS’ SLOW PROGRESS. HALTED BY RAIN. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.) ’ LONDON, Oct. 21. The Associated Press correspondent with the Italians on the southern front says that fierce fighting, in which the Abyssinians are believed to have suffered heavy casualties, lias occurred. Air observers reported a strong foroe of Abyssinians marching southward along the Fafan River. General Graziana, assuming they were Ras Nasibu’s flank, attacked and bombed and machine-gunned them from the air before dawn preparatory to an attack by infantry transported under cover of darkness. The Abyssinians, after repulsing tile first attack, were routed by reinforcements and fled toward Gorrahei.

The Rome correspondent of the Times says that Italians expect serious attacks on the Tigre and Somaliland fronts respectively. The most important Abyssinian concentration is north of Shoa, between the Blue Nile and tlie plateau in the central zone of Wallo, commanding roads radiating through Danakil, Assail, Tigre, Amhara, Gojjam and Shoa. To this place Ras Muiugheta is marching to join Prince Assau and other chiefs. The total forces number 150,000 and are poorly armed. A second concentration is in the Ogaden area, under Ras Nassibu and Ras Desta, whose irregulars are estimated to number 100,000, with modern weapons.

A third concentration is reported in the Tembien district to support Ras Seyqum, who fell back on Makale after the capture of Adowa.

Tlie Daily Telegraph’s Asmara correspondent says that rain halted General Graziani’s progress along the boundary of British Somaliland. Operations on the Eritrean front have been brought to a standstill except for roadmaking. Major-General Teml>erley, the paper’s military correspondent. recalling the Italian General Staff's reported warning lo Signor Mussolini prior to the outbreak of hostilities that it might take three years to reach Addis Ababa and another three to subjugate Abyssinia, points out that tire accompaniments of positional warfare on which the Italians are priding themselves are not so necessary as an immediate advance. J he rains will return in May. Hort far will the Italians get at their present leisurely rate? “HIDE AND SEEK” TACTICS.

The reason wily it is becoming a “hide and seek” war is tlie Italian difficulty in ascertaining 'he whereabouts of Abyssinian troops in country so facilitating concealment, ail Asmara message states. This is accentuated by the meagre reports of Italian airmen, though numberless daily reconnaissances aro conducted everywhere groups of Abyssinians are reported. Their strength is unknown and for that reason estimates must be guardedly accepted. The invaders, owing to tlie broken terrain, may “methodically” advance along the so-called Via Inglese, namely, tho route followed by Lord Napier’s Magdala expedition in 1868, hut this plan seems to overlook strong and increasing Abyssinian concentration around Makale, which lies between the Italian base and Magdala.

GOOD POSITIONS SEIZED. ITALIANS IN OGADEN. TIGRE CLERGY SUBMIT. Received October 22, 9.20 a.m. ASMARA, Oct. 21. It is reported that : the Italians on the Ogaden front have captured valuable positions at Soillave and Daguerre. The Abyssinians lost heavily and fled in disorder, abandoning two 'guns, many machine-guns, and rifles. The clergy of two hundred Coptic churches and fifteen mosques in the Tigre province have collectively submitted to the Italians.

CHEMICAL WARFARE.MATERIAL FOR ITALY. Received October 22, 9.20 a.m. COPENHAGEN, Oct. 21. It is reported that Denmark has shipped a large quantity of mustard seed to Italy, believed to be for the manufacture of gas. The Government is investigating, and may prohibit the export. PROTEST BY ITALIANS. TREATMENT OF ABYSSINIANS. CANE-CUTTERS DISPLEASED. Received October 22, 10.55 a.m. BRISBANE, Oct. 22. A meeting of Italian cane-cutters at Mourilyan, after discussing the invasion of Abyssinia by Italy, passed the following resolution “That this meeting of Italian cutters forward a protest to the Italian Consul in Sydney demanding that the invasion of Abyssinia shall cease, and and that this protest be forwarded to the Italian Government, as we consider that all the teachings of civilisation have been outraged by an unprovoked attack on the rights of the Abyssinians to develop in independence and peace.” OBSERVANCE OF SANCTIONS. CONSIDERATION BY NATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) Received October 22, 11.35 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 21. The Co-ordination Committee and the Committee of Eighteen will meet again , at Geneva on October 31 and decide the date of the application of the measures agreed upon. Meanwhile, the Governments participating in this step have been asked to inform the Secretary-General of the League of the measures they are taking to put the recommendations into effect. THE SHARE MARKET. : GOOD UNDER-TONE. (British Official Wireless.) Received October 22, 11.10 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 21. An encouraging view of the international situation was taken on the Stock Exchange to-day and the mar- ; kets closed under a good under-tone and the demand in all sections ex--1 paneled consideraby.