ITALY’S CLAIMS ARE FALSE

Northern Advocate, 21 January 1936, Page 4

ITALY’S CLAIMS ARE FALSE

ETHIOPIAN REPLY TO VICTORY STORY [“The Times” Cable . 3 (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says authoritative circles describe the Ganaledorya victory as important, rather than decisive. They express the opinion that a decisive blow will be struck on the Northern front. Motor transport gave the Italian pursuers a marked advantage over the wearied Abyssinians. General Graziani is alleged to have sent a massage to his men saying: “Chase the enemy, and give him no rest. ' Set your teeth into him.”

Marshal Badoglio’s communique says that the Italians are still relentlessly pursuing Ras Desta’s troops in the south, many of whom are in a deplorable condition, and have surrendered, begging for food. An Addis Ababa despatch says that large reinforcements are reported to be en route to join Ras Desta. Supplementing the Abyssinian disparagement of the Italian version of the Ganaledorya battle, Ethiopian headquarters, without reference to the Emperor, has issued a special communique, declaring that the Italian claims are completely false, and are merely designed to impress the League Council. The statement recalls that the Abyssinians announced on January 13 that Ras Desta v/as withdrawing his troops up to the Ganaledorya River, to solve supply difficulties. At Dessie the Emperor jSersonally machine-gunned an Italian bomber which circled the palace at a high altitude. In the wake of the jubilant Italian claims of victory at Dolo, Sir Percival Phillips, cabling to the “Daily Telegraph” from Djibouti, suggests that Ras Desta’s retreat was a move designed to lure General Graziani into country where communication can be cut.

He states that Ras Desta is reported to have withheld his main army, and to be awaiting an opportunity for a flanking movement. The Abyssinian losses were due largely to mass coun-ter-attacks in the open, against Ras Desta’s orders. The Italians’ spearhead is now in country in which it is easy to harry communication. Achieved Little. The “Evening News” agrees that the General achieved and possibly weakened his position, as he has doubled the length of the Italian line, intensifying the strain on communications. He has not brightened the prospects of a general advance, though he has temporarily removed the danger of an Abyssinian intrusion into Italian Somaliland. The “Manchester Guardian” says the Italians are momentarily in the ascendant in the south, but are struggling desperately in the north, where guerilla warfare .is parrying their hopes. The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Somali deserters who are reaching Ras Desta’s headquarters report friction between the Fascist militia and regular troops, involving rioting. Fascists are reported to be receiving honours and rewards, while the regulars are doing the fighting and enduring the hardships.