SOMALILAND REVOLT

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1935, Page 5

SOMALILAND REVOLT

FIERCE FIGHT REPORTED FORTY ITALIANS KILLED. TRIBAL FORCES ASSEMBLE. iUnited Press Association~By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. ] (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. The Addis Ababa correspondent of “The Times” reports that, appearing as from nowhere, 5700 troops under Abta Mikael, Governor of Kulo, riding a mount caparisoned in gold and silver, marched from Kulo and Wallamo to the palace, where the Emperor feasted them. The warriors carried obsolete Graf and Lebel rifles and only a few modern firearms. Every , other man wore a belt of ancient cartridges. They advanced at the double, five abreast, brandishing arms and chanting war songs. The troops halted to secure better ammunition and khaki uniforms, and then resumed a 17. days’ forced march to Dabat, North Gondar. Seven thousand will follow from Sidamo. *• A baggage train preceded the troops the day before, enabling unusual speed and quietness of movement. This indicates the urgency of the military situation. Confirmation has arrived of an incident at Walkait, in the far northwest, where an Abyssinian commander cut. off the water supply of an Italian detachment,’ whom he suspected of penetrating into his territory, by diverting a stream and forcing the invaders to retire. He also killed 40 in night attacks, in which 20 Abyssinians were lost. An army lorry picked up the Italian survivors, Mijjarten tribesm’en have revolted in Italian Somaliland. They resent road construction, and principally a levy of 100 women from each chief to supply the Italian soldiery in Mogadiscio and Massawa in Eritrea, British and French sources confirm this. Italians suppressed the’ revolt, but the Somalis trekked into British Somaliland'and Ogaden, whither other tribesmen resenting the levy of women moved from Ualual to Wardair, necessitating the Italians transferring troops to Makame, where the tribesmen are more friendly. Abyssinians are gratified at the effect ’of the Emperor’s propaganda on the Sdmaliland front, where the Italians are much more sparse than m Eritrea where tension is extreme. DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES. HOPE OF PEACEFUL OUTCOME.

IBritish Official Wireless.l (Received 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 28. The meeting of the Council of the League of Nations next week, at which it is hoped important progress will be made towards a solution of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, has not caused any interruption, in the diplomatic exchanges between London, Paris, and Rome, in which the British Government is co-operating with a view to facilitating a peaceful settlement. A Geneva despatch says Abyssinia has notified the League of her willingness to • resume arbitration * with Italy regarding the frontier dispute.