Italy in for Three-Year War

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 249, 22 October 1935, Page 7

Italy in for Three-Year War

Admit Extreme

Difficulties

of

Campaign

Abyssinians Difficult' to Find

in Mountains

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

Received Monday, Midnight.

LONDON, Oct. 21

The Associated Press correspondent -with the Italians on the southern front says fierce lighting in which the AbyssinianS are believed to have suffered heavy casualties has occurred.

Air observers reported a strong force of Abyssinians marching southward along the Fafan river. General Graziana, assuming they were Pas Nasibu’s Hank, attacked and bombed and machine-gunned them from the air before dawn preparatory to an attack by infantry transport under cover of darkness.

The Abyssinians, after repulsing the first attack, were routed by reinforcements and fled towards Gorrahei.

A Rome message states that it is officially denied that Danakils surrounded from five to seven hundred Italians, also that dumdum bullets and other brutalities are employed.

Heavy Fighting on Southern Front

ITALIANS ROUT ABYSSINIAN FORCE

Received Monday, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 21

The Daily Telegraph’s Asmara correspondent says rain has halted General Graziana‘s progress along the boundary of Biitish Somaliland and the operations on the Eritrean fiont have been brought to a standstill exceed for road-making.

The Daily Telegraph’s military expert, Major Temperley, recalling the Italian General Staff’s reported warning to 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 the accomplishments of positional ■warfare on which the Italians are priding themselves are not so necessary as an immediate advance. The rains' will return in May. How far will the Italians get at their present leisurely rate?

The Times’ Rome correspondent says the Italians expect serious attacks on the Tigre and Somaliland fronts respectively. The most important Abyssinian concentration is north of Shoa betweeu.the blue Nile and the plateau in the central zone of AVallo commanding the roads radiating through Danakil, Assab, Tigre, Amhara, Gojjam and Shoa. To this place Ras Mulugheta is marching to join Prince Assau and other chiefs. Their total forces number 150,000, but they are poorly armed.

The second concentration is in the Ogaden area under Ras Nassibii and Ras Desta, whose irregulars are estimated to number 100,000 with modern weapons.

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

An Asmara message says the reason why it is becoming a “hide and seek” war is the Italian difficulty in ascertaining the whereabouts of the Abyssinian troops in a country so facilitating concealment. This is accentuated by the meagre reports of Italian airmen, though numberless daily reconnaissances are conducted. Even where groups of Abyssinians are reported their strength is unknown and for that reason estimates must be guardedly accepted.

The invaders owing to the broken terrain may “methodically” advance along the so-called Via Inglese, namely the route followed by Lord Napier’s Magdala expedition in 1868, but this plan seems to overlook the strong and increasing Abyssinian concentrations around Makale which lies between the Italian base and Magdala.

Italians Cut Off by Tribesmen

SHORT OF FOOD AND WATER. ADIGRAT, October 20. JOoasie Horsemen report tine between 500 and 700 Italians were out off by Danakil tribesmen, who surrounded them in the hill country litteen miles from the French Somaliland frontier. The Italians have formed a square with two tanks in the centre. They are reported to be short of food and water.

Ethiopian Troops Must Pay for

Everything

LONDON, October 20,

The “Telegraph’s” Addis Ababa correspondent, says that the Emperor decrees that troops must no longer invest villages on their way to the front, or seize farmers’ livestock for provender, all armies must pay for everything except fodder.

Has Gougsa Proclaimed Overlord' of Tigre

ADIGRAT, October 20,

In a striking ceremony General de Bono has proclaimed Has Gougsa Overlord of tho Tigrs province. He said the customs of the country would not be disturbed and property would be protected.

Italian Steamer Refused Cargo

Of Coal

MOBASA, October 20,

IA accordance with British instructions in conformity with the international rules of neutrality apart from sanctions, the Kenya Government has ordered tho Italian -steamer Sursumcorda, which' it was anticipated was loading thousands of tons of coal,-to. sail within twenty-four hours, taking only 125 tons, sufficient to’ reach Italian Somaliland.

"Who Wanted Parity ?

AMERICA'S REPLY TO JELLICOE

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18.

Government officials denied tho assertion of Viscount Jcllieoo in London that the present-weakness of the British Navy was partially attributable to the United States’ desire for parity. Ono authoritative naval source com-

mented: “We could not have wanted parity because at the end of tho war we already had more than that, counting tho ships built and building. President Wilson wanted tho greatest navy iu the world, and we were building it when he went out of office.”

Japan on Limitations

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19,

Baron Saito delivered to the State Department a memorandum which is identical with tho one Japan presented in London outlining Japan’s views in reference to naval limitation which leaves the matter open for further negotiations. It is understood the United States Government while ndt optimistic concerning the success of any conference called, is willing to participate in discussions should Britain summon a conference.

Passenger Boats Will Still

Go Via Suez

When a "Times" reporter had the opportunity to speak to a representative of the Pi and O. Company od Saturday the question of that company’s attitude to the Abyssinian trouble wai investigated. v

The official’s reply was to the effect that for the present there would be no diversion from tho Suez route. There was no falling-off in tho demand for accommodation and the advice given the reporter was to book early.

In the event of the necessity arising for boats between Australia and England having to go around the

Cape of Good Hope, it was not the intention of the P. ahd O. Company to penalise those who had already arranged passages with them.