BIG OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 9

BIG OFFENSIVE

SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA ITALIAN FORCE ADVANCES ETHIOPIANS IN FLIGHT By TeleKraph--Press Association—Copyright ROME, Jan. 15 The Italian commander-in-chief in AI jyssinia, Marshal Badoglio, in a communique states that General Graziaui, since January 12, has been driving back I\as Desta's southern forces between the Rivers Ganale Dorya and Dawa, thus relieving the threat to the Somaliland front based on Dolo. The action is being continued along the whole front. The Italian losses are not serious. It is expected that the Italians now will press on between the Webbe Shebeli and Fafan Rivers toward Jijiga and Harrar. The communique seems to indicate that the first major action has been launched by the Italians on the southern front, the purpose of which is to scatter Ras Desta's army of 60,000 men. who for a month have harassed the Italian left wing north-west of Dolo menacing the invaders' long-contem-plated advance toward Jijiga and Harrar. General Graziani's advance force embraced regulars, Black Shirts, native levies, tanks, armoured cars and aircraft. The advance was begun at dawn on Monday. The first two days were occupied m engaging Abyssinian outposts who, fighting stubbornly, tell back on their main positions. Only after wave upon wave of Somali irregulars had attacked in the Dawa, Ganale Dorya and Webbe •Shebeli sectors did the Abyssinians show signs of flinching. Armoured cars with machine-guns appeared at dawn on tho third day whereupon the retreat developed into flight. Hastily dug trenches which concealed machine-gun nests did not avail the Abyssinians, who had to withstand a withering fire. Tho Italians pursued the retreating warriors, and had advanced their line 15 miles by nightfall. The casualties have not been ascertained, but it is stated that the Abyssinian dead total 500 and the Italian 100. While this battle was progressing another Italian column, advancing from Amino, on tho Ganale Dorya River, forced a section of the enemy toward the Kenya border, occupying two villages after severe fighting. A report from Dessie states that further Italian reconnaissance aeroplanes flew over that city, the occupants apparently photographing the population. The machines returned northwards and bombed and machine-gunned Ambabi Routa. It is officially denied that Sokota was ever occupied, evacuated or bombed.