ABYSSINIAN RAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 13

ABYSSINIAN RAID

ADOWA-AKSUM LINE ITALIAN REVERSE CLAIMED COURAGEOUS RESISTANCE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Feb. 24 A message from Addis Ababa ] claims that a large force of Has Imru's Gojjam raiders penetrated j the Adowa-Aksum line and killed 412 white Italian soldiers, and destroyed 15 munition dumps and two depots", each containing 30 tanks. 1 The achievement is hailed as an J effective answer to the Italian story that the whole of the Gojjam pro- J vince is in revolt against the 1 Emperor. Pas Imru's raid is the first Abys- j sinian penetration of the Adowa-Adi-grat-Aksum line. A Gojjam officer said ] the Italians fought bravely for a few 1 minutes, but then turned tail, many |

taking refuge in tanks, which the Abyssinians charged with swords, daggers, scimitars and lances. Some Italians were surprised at Mass. The priest and the Sacrament were spared. The Italian lines of communication between Adowa and Eritrea will be the next objective of two Abyssinian columns. In a note from Rome, referring to Pas Imru's claim, the official spokesman says the war news sent out from Addis Ababa is no longer worth denying. WAR MATERIALS SUPPLY FOR ETHIOPIANS LANDED AT BRITISH PORT LONDON. Feb. 24 A despatch from Berbera, British Somaliland, states that 600 tons of war materials arrived there by the steamer Santa Maria, formerly the Wendy. They were transported in lorries to the Southern Abyssinian border to enable Pas Desta to contend against General Graziani's mechanised units. Tho shipment includes 30 anti-tank guns, six automatic guns, 10,000 Mauser rifles, 1200 automatic rifles, 15,000,000 cartridges, 500 gas masks, 1000 incendiary bombs, and machinery and tools. Two million of the cartridges were made in Britain. The remainder of the shipment came from Stettin, Germany. MAFFEY REPORT LEAKAGE IN PARIS MINISTER'S ASSERTION (Received February 25, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 24 Mr. Anthony Eden, in the course of his speech to-day, informed the House of Commons that he was investigating the leakage of the Maffey report, which in no way established variability or insincerity in British policy regarding Abyssinia. It was merely a report of an inter-departmental committee as the result of Italy's inquiry as to the extent of British interests in Abyssinia. Mr. Eden explained that the leakage occurred in Paris. Continuing, the Minister said that Italy had made her inquiry toward the end of January, 1935. No specific reply had been returned to Pome owing to the fact that Italian activities in Abyssinia by then were raising whole question of the integrity of Abyssinia. Any personal British interests then were naturally subordinate to her obligations as a member of the League. Mr. Eden agreed that the leakage was a matter of grave concern, and said he hoped the House would not ask what steps it was proposed to take. A distinction must be drawn between a document stolen in London and leakage over a document in Paris over which the British Government had no control. No'useful purpose could bo served by publishing tho document as a White Paper. The Daily Telegraph's Pome correspondent says Italy regards tho refusal to publish tho Maffey report as an indication that passages which Signor Gayda did not print were derogatory to Britain.