BIG BATTLE RAGING IN ABYSSINIA

Northern Advocate, 9 March 1936, Page 6

BIG BATTLE RAGING IN ABYSSINIA

WAR'S MOST DESPERATE STRUGGLE I HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES

[United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright.] (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 6. TTNOFFICIAL despatches from Addis Ababa announced that the most desperate battle of the __ war is raging in Tembien, with total .disregard of life, there being thousands of dead and wounded on both sides.

The Takkaze riverbed is choked with corpses. Both sides are throwing in their reserves to strengthen the fighting line. An official Abyssinian communique comprehensively denies the Italian allegations of an Abyssinian defeat and chaos on the northern front, and adds that there has not been a single Italian victory on that front. On the contrary, a great battle is proceeding, with heavy losses on both sides. Ras Mulugeta, with excellent troops is Inarching towards Mt. Alagi. Rome Communique. A communique from Rome merely announces that four Italian army corps jure advancing. The first corps has reached Corbeta, 12 miles southwest of Mt. Aliagi, and the third corps has also turned southwards towards Fenaroa and the Samre River. The news from the most important sector is briefly dismissed with the announcement that other Italian forces are “skirmishing” with the Abyssinians in an effort to maintain hold of the Takkaze river fords, in an ?+- > tempt to secure the position recently reached, prior to launching a drive towards Lake Ashangi. The fourth corps, which was-ord-ered to mop 'up the Shire districts, southrwest of Aksum, has outstripped its supplies, necessitating aeroplanes dropping food by means of parachutes,

Marshal. Badoglio reports that, the enemy remnants continue their disastrous flight southwards harrassed by Tigrean and Galla-ite bands, eager to exact vengeance for the abuses they have suffered so long. / x Alarm At Capital. It is believed that the- Italians ink tend shortly to bomb thfe capital because a three-engined Caproni bomber, appearing from the direction of Negelli, spent an hour circling over Addis Ababa ‘at a height of 7000 ft., taking photographs and scorning ineffectual machine-gun fire from the ground.

The inhabitants removed their beds and/furniture and took up their quarters in prepared •. trenches outside the city. Proclamations have been issued in the hope of ensuring the safety of the townspeople, all women j and children and aged persons having been ordered to stand in readiness ot evacuate Addis Ababa at dawn.

- , < A Brave Celonel. It is announced that an aeroplane with a. crew of four Italians was returning from a bombing raid in the Takkaze district when a bullet struck a vulnerable part of the machine, setting it afire. The pilot, Colonel Olivetti, ordered his three companions jr- to parachute to- They refused, so the colonel compelled Captain Ercolane, who had been urging the colonel to jump first, to don a parachute and prevailed upon him and the others, after a struggle, to’ leave the’machine. They, landed safely, but when the machine crashed south of Aksum the shattered body of the ‘ colonel was found among the ruins, y He was buried with military honours.