DRIVE SOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 13

DRIVE SOUTH

ITALIAN FORCES active operations . AIR FOECE ASSISTING BOAD TO THE CAPITAL POSITIONS GAINED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 21. 5.5 p.m.) ROME. Feb. 20 A comniunique announces that the First Army Corps in Abyssinia has resumed the advance southward. The Air Force does not give the enemy - a respite. Marshal Badoglio's objective now is Ekbaalazi, a natural fortress 11.000 ft. high which bars access to the motor road to Addis Ababa. However, it is 250 miles distant from the capital in a straight line.

The Italian Commander-in-Chief is extending his operations laterally. He has occupied Mount Damascal and Mount Bamba.. north of Gaela, and controls the road from Tembien southward, further threatening the retreat of Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum. He is also reported to have reached Anseba, 17 miles east of Scelicot." Thus Marshal Badoglio has occupied the mountain range which marks the boundary of the great Abyssinian plateau dominating the Danakil Plain. Three hundred aeroplanes are harassing the Abyssinians as a preliminary to a drive toward Harrar and Jijiga. The Daily Mail's Asmara correspondent reports that photographs taken from the air show Ras Mulugeta's troops struggling southwards. Many have thrown down their arms, and the columns apparently are disintegrating. DESPERATE BATTLE ITALIAN ADVANCE TACTICS OF DEFENDERS LONDON. Feb. 20 A desperate battle is reported to be taging between the forces of Ras Kassa and Ra'S Seyoum and Black Shirts. Advancing their west flank, the Italians attacked first, using heavy mountain and field artillery. The Ethiopians are reported to be holding their own. They do not venture from their caves and dug-outs in the daytime, but have perfected night raiding tactics. Patrols creep up to the Italians' lines, attacking with swords and bayonets. The most violent encounters have occurred along the River Maiueri, a tributary of the Takazze.

SITUATION REVIEWED MOVEMENTS, OF ARMIES ABYSSINIANS' MORALE GOOD '• -l'{ Times Cable LONDON. Feb. 20 Official silence is maintained regarding the Italian claim to a victory at Mount Aradam, states a copyright message to the Times from Dessve. It is unofficially stated that nearly the whole of Ras Mulugeta's army has been reformed soiith-west of its original position, directly south of the Italian 3rd Corps, which is reported to have occupied the village of Gaela and to be moving westward toward Takazze, Apparently the aim is the severance of lias Kassa's communications with Gortdar, from which centre he draws his supplies. If'-the Italians are attempting such * move, the Emperor Haili Selassie probably will order Ras Kassa to move iouthwaid from Addi Abbi, while Ras Mulugeta advances northward toward Antalo and Gaela for the purpose of closing the narrow avenue along which the Italians' communications run through roadless country. Whether or not Ras Mulugeta's recovery is true, Dessye is not greatly troubled by the reported Italian success. Newspaper correspondents there have been ordered to prepare to depart northward, which would be lyilikely if they were to meet routed armies. Lieutenant-Colonel Holt, British ittaiche in Abyssinia, says he thinks no uneasiness is felt regarding the northern front. Other observers declare that the Abyssinians' morale remains good. The armies of Dedjasmatch Wodaju, Ras Kabede and Bitouided Makonnen, totalling more than 100,000 well-fed <ud well-equipped troops, are still facing the Italians. Ras Sevoum and Ras Kassa. on the flank of the Italians, are receiving reinforcements. LATE KINGSFORD SMITH AN OFFER REJECTED ' CARRIAGE OF WAR PICTURES • SYDNEY. Feb. 21 Mr. B. Sheil. who was personal assistant to the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, in a broadcast address last evening, related that Sir Charles, not long before his last tragic flight, rejected a tempting offer to carry photographs of incidents in the Abj'ssinian *ar to London for a big newspaper •Indicate.

Mr. Sheil said the syndicate offered Sir Charles £BOOO for his machine and * large salary if he would personally fly the aeroplane on its behalf for six months.

Sir Charles felt, however, that his acceptance of the offer would not be wise because of the feeling in regard to the Abyssinian situation, and especially because be beld high rank in the Roya 1 Australian Air Force. Therefore ho rejected the proposal.