LOSS OF ARADAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 11

LOSS OF ARADAM

BLOW TO ABYSSINIANS PLANS MUST BE ALTERED WARRIORS' VAIN HEROISM By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 17, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 17 The Daily Mail's Asmara correspondent says that with the fall of Aradam the Abyssinians must abandon their previous plan. This consisted of attacking the Italians with Ras Kassa's and Ras Seyoum's troops for the purpose of isolating Makale, while Ras Mulugeta waited to assault the town when it was encircled. The Abyssinian plan depended upon the holding of Aradam. From the summit of the hill Ras Mulugeta, surrounded by his bodyguard, watched the relentless Italian advance and saw waves of his warriors unavailingly leaping down the mountainside against the Italian machineguns in an effort to defend the stronghold. Finally he retired with the survivors.

The Italian field hospitals were crowded by an endless procession of wounded. They told many tales of heroism, including one of a machinegunner who continued firing after he had been wounded in one leg until he was killed, with'his fingers still on the button firing a stream of bullets even in death.