ITALIAN ADVANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 9

ITALIAN ADVANCE

MARCH ON CAPITAL *"" ~ * ALL BRIDGES BLOWN UP "FALL WILL NOT END WAR" / DEFENDERS WILL FIGHT ON LONDON, April 19 Two Italian - columns of 3000 motorised white troops crossed the Robi Riverj 30 miles north-east of Debra Berhan, en route to Addis A hfl ha In spite of the gravity of the situation it is not regarded hopeless. All the bridges on the DessyeAddis Ababa road have been blown up and the motor journey now takes eight days instead of 18 hours as previously. The Abyssinians do not seem to have defended Tarmarbur, the 12,000 ft. peak guarding the,capital. Officials declare that the capture- of Addis Ababa may result in the extinction of hope of help from Europe, but will not end the war, which will continue on the basis of Abyssinia against the world. Bandits are said to have looted Dessve before the Crown Prince left.

THE EMPEROR'S CAVE MAGNIFICENT FURNISHINGS LIQUORS AND LUXURIES (Received April 20, 6.15 p.m.) LONDON. April 19 The Sun-Herald news service says that the cave which the Emperor Haili Selassie occupied as his headquarters at Qaornm was fitted out with thoroughness and magnificence, suggesting the expectation of a long occupation. It included a most complicated underground system of passages, steps, caverns and refuges, making it impervious to air attacks. It was surrounded by machinegjm emplacements. The cave was stocked with hundreds of cases of munitions, gas masks, machine-guns, rifles, wireless sets, hospital equipment, cases of champagne, claret, port,, whisky and brandy, many boxes of eau de Cologne, crates of the choicest provisions, stoves, sewing machines, armchairs, sofas, beds and a biith. The walls Were covered with tapestries and the floors; with sumptuous carpets. Evidence of women occupants was provided by the discovery of fashionable dresses and underclothes, and the most exclusive French powders and other cosmetics. w,ITALIAN, FLAG HOISTED !:'?>: ' ;p." , CEftEMOfiY ON HIGH PEAK mm ■ ' ' HOME. April 19 Details arrived of a» Easter Day coreoior-.y orr the highest peak . oi'fei'loci.uif-; Lake Tstina. General £'.-arace said: "I hoist the tricolour in th- name of the King atid fl Duce. .us swear that the n <>* . b* l lata w;il be sprinkled juth the• blood oi anyone rho may 4>" t( .ke I:, from as. Do you swear ii ?" ' j ' M troops ,shoutoci, "Yes," wliere;fl )CD a Lilnck Shirt stepped forward fi'lo * sited. »"Can w call tho peak |l| a cant, Sltissoimi.*' •j te Pirate replied: "It shall be

"HOPE VANISHED" REPORT TO LEAGUE FAILURE OF CONCILIATION EFFORTS OF COMMITTEE British Wireless , RUGBY, April 19 The report registering failure of efforts to bring the Italians and Abyssinians together for a settlement of the war isi to be submitted to the Council of the League. The Sanctions Committee of Eighteen is entirely independent and the question whether it should be summoned lies solely with the chairman, Senor Vasconcellos (Portugal). Opinion in Geneva is that although its experts will continue their work of supervision and co-ordination there will be no meeting of the committee before May 11, when the League Council holds its ordinary session. By then the elections in France will be over and the •policy of the League may have become clearer.

The report of Senor Madariaga, chairman of the Committee of Thirteen, says: " It was hoped that the appeal sent on March 3 to the Abyssinian and Italian Governments would result in the prompt cessation of hostilities and establishment of peace, but this hope has now vanished."

The report adds: "There is nothing left for the Committee of Thirteen to do but to admit failure of its efforts and bring to the notice of the League Council that the procedure of conciliation has failed. This will be done at the Council meeting on Monday morning."

The Committee of Thirteen also decided to despatch a Note asking the Italian Government to reply to the charges which have been made in connection with tho allegation of the use of poison gas. No actioa will be taken until a reply is received The Geneva correspondent of the Times states that the Council of the League will receive to-morrow the report of the Committee of Thirteen's failure in conciliation, which will be presented as a resolution, the effect bf which will be to deplore the failure of efforts for peace and confirm, the policy of the League toward aggression. It will also place on record its determination to continue existing sanctions.

ABYSSINIAN LOSSES OFFICIAL ITALIAN ACCOUNT TOLL OF HARRAR OFFENSIVE (Received April 20, 5.5 p.m.) ROME. April 19 The official Italian account of the fighting on the Somaliland front, near Harrar, where General Graziani launched a new offensive on April 18, declares that the Abyssinians lost several thousands dead, including some important chiefs.