First Direct Attack

Northern Advocate, 6 December 1935, Page 5

First Direct Attack

Abyssinian Sortie NIGHT ADVANCE _ AGAINST ITALIANS SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS {United Press Association -By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.! (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. ■fPHE' correspondent of the ExA change Telegraph Company with the Italian Northern Army says the Abyssinians’ first direct attach on the Italian line since the campaign started occurred under the cover of darkness last night.

A strong, well-armed force advanced against the Italian division at Shelikot, 12 miles south of Makale. Italian headquarters admits that the fighting was heavy, but claim that tne attack was successfully repulsed. _ The Asmara correspondent of The Times” says four Italian soldiers were killed in a skirmish south -we'st ot Makale. There was another skirmxsn north of Takazze, near Addi Rassi, without casualties. The impression is that the Abyssinians are preparing to force the lightly held centre of the Makale-Adowa line, with the object of outflanking the Italians.

An official statement gives a long list of heavy deliveries Of arms and munitions to the Abyssinians from Belgium, German and British sources, including hundreds of machine guns, -500,000 hand grenades and an incredible number of rifles.

Agents of several nationalities at Addis Ababa are reported to be offering 50,000,000 cartridges, with rifles to match, barbed wire, thousands of miles of cloth for uniforms, motors, radib telephone and telegraph equipment ■ . The munition factory at Addis Ababa is being constructed with foreign assistance to produce bombs, artillery and gas producing machinery, Italians Withdraw. “The Times” in a copyright message from Addis Ababa, states that following information from Dedjazmatch Nasifaou, Governor of Harrar, Gerlogubi. and Gorahai were officially declared to have been abandoned by the Italians, although they are not occupied by the Abyssinians,, who fear a ruse or renewed aerial bombardment.'

The Abyssinian's’ initial retreat from Gorahai was partly due to instinct, following their dying leader, Afewerk, from battle,,. and_,._alsp. because there was no co-operation between Afewerk’s troops and; those of his cowardly successor Fitaurari Simu, whom the Emperor* pimped,-:,with lashes and two bayonet stabs in the - back for ordering,.the evacuation of Gorahai and Gabridihari.

Nevertheless, it is realised that it will be, difficult to defend the old circular forts of Gorahai and Gerlogubi from the air, but, north of Gabridihari, camps can be speedily evacuated if bombarded. Abyssinian , Advance Soon.

' It is' expected , that an Abyssinian advance is only a matter of time if only' to emphasise the Anale victory and the ineffectiveness of tanks. in bush'country. It is believed the Italians in the north must weaken their lines in order to occupy a length of the Takkaze River, offering an opportunity for warfare, which Haile Selassie remains at Dessye to order. A communique claims that Abyssinians ambushed, in a mountain gorge, 500 Italians marching towards Karnale, and killed .50. The remainder fled, leaving ammunition and food. The Abyssinians lost 15 dead and a few wounded.