FRONTIER CLASH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22032, 12 February 1935, Page 9

FRONTIER CLASH

SOMALILAND FORCES

ITALY AND ABYSSINIA TENSITY OF SITUATIONROME'S WAR PREPARATIONS By Telegraph—Press Associatiop—Copyright (Received February 11, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 11 A message from Pome states that a communique announces that five Italian and six Somali troopers were killed or wounded in a frontier clash at Adfub, south-west of Ulual, on January 19. The Abyssinian losses are believed to have been greater. Three mechanised classes of conscripts have been called up owing to the threat of war against Abyssinia in consequence of the new outbreak of fighting, Italy has instructed the Ambassador at Addis Ababa to warn Abyssinia that the new provocation has created a tense situation.

The Addis Ababa correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the warlike tribes are offering opposition to the eoncilatory policy of the Ethiopian Emperor. The Ethiopians are essentially a warlike race and rightly or wrongly have no fear of the Italians.

It is reported that continued aggression at Gerlogubi has greatly inflamed the soldiers, of whom between 50,000 and 80,000 are equipped with modern rifles and numbers of machine-guns and are ready for emergencies. • The Italians are replying with aeroplanes and tanks. A serious encounter occurred on December 5 between Italian colonial troops and Abyssinian forces in the vicinity of the wells at Wallal and Wardair, between Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia. According to reports received in London Colonel Clifford and other British officials, members of the joint commission of the British Somaliland and Abyssinian Governments which was defining grazing grounds, were present at the beginning of the dispute which led to the fighting at the Italian outpost at Ulual. The commission, accompanied by an Abyssinian escort, arrived at Ulual on November 23, where it was confronted by 800 troops commanded by an Italian, Captain Cimmaruta, who refused to allow the commission to camp in the neighbourhood of the wells or to move freely in Abyssinian territory, although the commission's work was not connected with the Italian-Abyssinian dispute. The members of the commission vigorously protested and asked Captain Cimmaruta to refer the matter to Rome. Captain Cimmaruta refused and summoned tanks and aeroplanes. Colonel Clifford attempted to smooth matters, but failing he returned to Berbera to report to the Government. Matters became more acute and fighting began. The British Minister in Abyssinia and the Ambassador at Home reported regarding the matter. The Abyssinian Charge d'Affaires at Rome lodged a protest to Italy alleging an unprovoked attack. The Italians declared that the incident was exaggerated and a semi-official message from Rome denied that the Italians attacked the commission.

The Italian Government on December 7 sent a Note to Abyssinia demanding satisfaction for "an armed attack on the Italian outpost well of Ulual, in Somaliland." The Abyssinians were alleged to have crossed the frontier and killed 60 and injured 400 Italian Somali guards, who held out until reinforcements arrived and then routed the attackers. The latter thereupon fled, leaving their arms, ammunition and equipment littered over a distance of 10 miles. Two Italian aeroplanes bombed the Abyssinians. The total of casualties was believed to be heavy. Abyssinia on December 16 drew the attention of. the League of Nations to the incident at Ulual, Somaliland, where the clash of arms resulted in numerous casualties. It was alleged that Italian aggression was the cause of the trouble. The Note complained that an Italian force on November 23 prevented the Anglo-Abyssinian mission demarking pasture lands of Ulual 100 kilometres within the frontier. Italian forces in tanks and aeroplanes, without provocation, it was alleged, attacked the commission's escort on December 5 and Italian airmen bombed Adoa, Gerlogubi, on December 9. The Italian Charge d'Affaires disregarded the Abyssinian protest and refused arbitration and the demanded indemnity.

The Prime Minister of Italy, Signor Mussolini, received the Abyssinian Minister in Rome on January 11 and insisted that there should be -no more procrastination or frontier delimitation by Abyssinia in Italian Somaliland. The conversation was not conclusive but it was friendly, both Signor Mussolini and the Abyssinian representative expressing a desire to assure peace.