ITALIAN ADVANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 47, 24 January 1936, Page 9

ITALIAN ADVANCE.

DEFENDERS’ BIG LOSSES. REPORT BY GRAZIANI. ROME, Jan. 22, A triumphant communique, after announcing the opening of an Italian offensive in Tembien, records a further advance by General Graziani who, with the aid of Genoa dragoons and Aosta lancers, claims to have occupied Negelli, the principal town of the GallaBorani region, sixty miles west of Filtu. He seized quantities of arms, “thus delivering from the detestable Abyssinian domination the Borani country, whose chief accepted Italian sovereignty in 1886. Local notables expressed satisfaction at the victory of the invaders, with whom they offered co-operation against the Emperor Haile Selassie.” The Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini, telegraphed to General Graziani a message vibrant with pride, but no indication has yet been given as to whether this isolated dash by cavalry, supported by whippet tanks and armoured cars, precedes permanent military occupation. Outstanding features of the situation are reported to be a diminution of General Graziani’s supplies, and a further extension of his lines of communication. which now stretch 240 miles from Dolo. An Italian commentator expresses the opinion that the Abyssinians must have lost between 15,000 _ and 20,000 men in this latest operation, which would account for half Ras Desta’s forces. Ras Desta himself reports that he has merely withdrawn with a view to launching harassing attacks from the mountains, where tanks cannot reach him. Meanwhile Ras Nasibu, enabled by Ras Desta’s threat to - the Italian left flank to free his front and advance against the invaders by forced marches from Jigjiga, has reached a point near Sava Baneh, and hopes to engage the Italian right flank. A Rome gazette publishes, without comment, a decree disbanding the infantry division constituted in November.