PURSUIT PRESSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 13

PURSUIT PRESSED

ADVANCING ITALIANS EMPEROR AT THE F;RONT MACHINE-GUN HANDLED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 7, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, April G The Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail says the Italians are swiftly pressing their pursuit of the Abyssinians and have entered Corbo, within 100 miles of Dessye. A message from Addis Ababa states that reports of the Battle of Ashangi received from the front show that Haili Selassie for the first 36 hours remained at his headquarters, directing the defence. Then, finding that the Italians were out-classing and out-numbering his troops, the Emperor went to the front with the Imperial Guard and a machine-gun detachment. He remained there two days without sleep handling a machine-gun. A despatch from Asmara states that a luxurious black limousine, believed to be the Emperor's, was captured by Askari flying columns after they had attacked and routed an isolated detachment of the Imperial Guard south of Quoram. Italian airmen afterward bombed two motor-cars which were moving southward along the main road to Dessye. CAMPAIGN PLANS NO RELAXATION INTENDED OFFICIAL DECLARATION (Received April 7, 6.5 p.m.) ROME, April 6 The official spokesman of the Italian Government indicated to-day that the fact that an Italian delegation is going to Geneva could not be interpreted as a suggestion that military pressure is being relaxed in Abyssinia. On the contrary, operations would continue whatever happened in Europe. The Italians were only going to Geneva to attend the meeting of the Locarno Powers.

ROME'S ALLEGATION FIELD HOSPITAL SHELLED COMPLAINT TO LEAGUE (Received April 7, G. 5 p.m.) GENEVA. April G

The Government of Italy has protested to the League that Abyssinian artillery bombarded an Italian field hospital on March 30, causing heavy

casualties. NOT DEFEATED ABYSSINIAN ARMIES LEAGUE'S AID IMPLORED ADDIS ABABA, April R "Ethiopia is not defeated. My armie!i are prepared to fight until not a single aggressor remains in Abyssinia," declared the Emperor, Haili Selassie, in an interview to-day. "We are certainly not suing for peace. We have accepted and are re«dy at any moment to begin negotiations within the framework of the League and the spirit of the Covenant. Nevertheless, there have been already months of delay in arranging for the negotiations the Committee of Thirteen suggested . " We are also disappointed at the continual non-application of effective sanctions, which would end the cruel war," said the Emperor. " Italy, in spite of her pledge not to resort to such means, is utilising the delay to employ the most horrible and barbarous methods, with the result that open town 3 have been bombed and peaceful civilians, far from the fronts, where it is impossible to plead military necessity, have been cruelly burned by gas. " Nevertheless, in spite of these overwhelming odds and manifold atrocities the morale of our troops and our people is excellent. Italian allegations to the contrary are odious' lies circulated in order to influence the League during the negotiations. " We are Convinced that tho League has not abandoned collective security but will admit tho justice of the Abyssinian cause, and demand immediate and effective sanctions on behalf of a loyal member."

LOAN FOR ETHIOPIA AERIAL DEFENCE FUND MINISTER'S QUEST IN LONDON LONDON, April 6 In consequence of the embargo on foreign loans and the ineffectiveness of the League's intervention, the Abyssinian Minister in London, Dr. Azaj Wavqueh-Martin, intends to make a private appeal by circular for 100,000 subscribers of £lO each to a loan of £1,000,000 to buy aeroplanes with which to counter the Italian air raids. " There will be little difficulty in getting aeroplanes or pilots," states the Minister. Ho directs attention to the " dire necessity of protecting Abyssintans from slaughter."

GENEVA COMMITTEE MEMBERS MEET TO-DAY HOSTILITIES IN AFRICA British Wireless RUGBY, April 6 The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, will lead the British delegation at the meeting of the Committee of Thirteen of tho League of Nations on Wednesday at Geneva to receive the report of the chairman, Senor Madariaga. With the Secretary-General of the League, Senor Madariaga was requested to approach the* Italian and Abyssinian Governments in order to enable tli9 committee to bring the parties together with a view to the restoration of peace. Another matter upon which the committee awaits information from Senor Madariaga has reference to the result of representations made by him to the Italian Government on the subject of gas warfare.