HILLSIDE SORTIE

Northern Advocate, 28 October 1935, Page 5

HILLSIDE SORTIE

BY RENEGADE SULTAN STRONG POSITION TAKEN A STRATEGIC VICTORY LUnited Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.! (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 25. A Press correspondent says details of the assault made on October 22 by the renegade Sultan, Olal Dinle, on the fortified village of Geledi, on the right bank of the Webbe Shibeli, north-west of Dagnerei, show that the Abyssinians fortified themselves on the flank of a south-western spur of the central plateau, in a position known as “Monkey Mountain” owing to its perpendicular sides. They considered the position impregnable, but Olal with 1000 followers made a nocturnal divergence, bringing the main body of his force round the back of the mountain, leaving two parties of 50 apiece on each side of the cliff. His main body.attacked at dawn, supported ‘ by six machine-guns, while, aeroplanes bombed and grenaded the defenders, blowing up an ammunition dump. Olal' ordered a strategic retreat, whereupon the Abyssinians charged, but Olal’s two parties of 50, who had climbed, panther-like, to each end of the cliff, opened fire into the backs of the Abyssinians with their own two machine-guns and the four machine-guns which the Abyssinians had left behind. Dial's; main body turned and countercharged, hemming in the Abyssinians, who surrendered. Motors, with machine-guns mounted, were sent in pursuit of the fleeing Abyssinians. They sank axle-deep in mud and the crews were compelled to dig them out. Thus they were in time only to pick up some of the Abyssinian wounded.

ABYSSINIANS’ NIGHT ATTACK

(Received noon.) LONDON, October 27,

The “Daily Mail’s” Asmara correspondent says ttjat Abyssinians made a nocturnal attack on Italian blockhouses on the northern bank of the Setit River, in Eritrea, adjacent to the Sudan. They crossed the river on rafts, but the alarm was given and Italian Verey lights afforded Italian machine-guns an admirable target. The Abyssinians were repulsed, losing 100 dead and many wounded.