RISING TIDE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 20 February 1941, Page 6

RISING TIDE

ETHIOPIAN REVOLT DRAWING NEARER TO ADDIS ABABA PATRIOTS IN ARMS i 1 U.P.A.-By Electric TeleKraph-Copyrlght) j (Rec. 1.45 p.m.) London. Feb. 19 j From all parts of Abyssinia j comes the news of the rising tide of Ethiopian revolt which is sweeping across the Gojjam uplands, drawing ever nearer to Addis Ababa. Already around the capital there are reported ; to be between 10,000 and 15,000 ! patriots in arms. 1 Haile Selassie's troops are now approaching Burye which is a vital comi munications base: the Sudan patriot i troops from Kurmuk have invested , Asosa, while British pressure is increasing in Eritrea and Somaliland. Patriots led by British officers and Haile Selassie’s chief lieutenant scored a most important victory when they j captured Dangila after a three days’ encounter. The attackers harassed the ! Italian garrison of three battalions with machine-gun and rifle fire and made 1 several sorties to the edge of the de- : fences. Many of the defenders, including white officers, fell to the point- , blank fire. The Italians prepared to evacuate and started to fire petrol 1 dumps and houses but the Patriots i charged in the darkness and saved most |of this large market town. The Italians flew with the black troops picking them off from the forests at the rear. : They are retreating toward a country which is already pocketed with Ethio- : pian positions. The capture of Dangila ’ gives the R.A.F. landing grounds within ; easy range of Burye. Addis Ababa. 1 Debra Markos and Debra Tobor. KISMAYU REGION (.Rec. 2.10 p.m.) London, This Day. South African troops are engaging the whole of Kismayu region which is putting up a strong resistance a few miles west of the town. Lorries are constantly rumbling into Kismayu and the natives and Kismayuites enthusiastically welcome the British.