ITALIAN HALT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 11

ITALIAN HALT

MARCH ON CAPITAL STILL 100 MILES AWAY BADOGLIO AT DESSYE HEADQUARTERS MOVED By Telejrrnph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 22, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 22 The Addis Ababa correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the Italian advance toward Addis Ababa has been halted. The nearest troops are declared to be at least 100 miles away. It is believed that the Italians have paused in order to consolidate their positions before making a final forced march on the capital. Despatches from Rome suggest that Marshal Badoglio has transferred his headquarters to Dessve in order better to organise the coming march on Addis -Ababa. The transfer was effected by means of 12 aeroplanes in an hour and a-lialf. Marshal Badoglio entered the town iii the Emperor's motor-car which was found abandoned at Quoram. He was awaited bv Coptic clergy and greeted by sinking girls. A large new aerodrome has been laid out at Dessyo whither 100 tons of munitions and stores are being hurriedly transported from tho north. FIERCE BATTLE WARRIORS' RESISTANCE ITALIANS BOMB MOGALO • ' LONDON, April 21 According to advices from Abyssinia a fierce battle is raging north of Addis Ababa. It is believed that the Italians launched an attack on warriors who are making a last stand to defend the capital. The Abyssinian authorities are enforcing the strictest censorship. It has been ascertained that Sholameda, Jijiga, Harrar, Awash and Warra Hailu, near Dessye, are still in Abyssinian hands. The Emperor is reported to be still in Northern Abyssinia, accompanied by a large number of the Imperial Guard. The Crown Prince is believed to have engaged the Italians successfully yesterday 130 miles north of Addis Ababa. A communique from the Italian com-mander-in-chief, Marshal Badoglio, announces the transference of the Italian headquarters to Dessye. It reports that General Graziani's victory in Ogaden holds the gravest consequences for the Abyssinians, who were dispersed and pursued by Libyan and other troops. Italian airmen dropped many bombs on Mogalo, killing two women. A message from Rome states that the jubilations attending the city's 2689 th birthday were somewhat damped by rain, but were increased by the announcement of the details of a victory at Giana Gobo, on the southern front in Abyssinia. The reported repulse of the Italians by tho Crown Prince at Warra Hailu, en route to Addis Ababa, was not denied. DEVELOPMENT LOAN ITALY'S INTENTION COMPLETE VICTORY FIRST (Received April 22, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 22 The Rome correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the Government is reported to be considering a 6 per cent internal Abyssinian development loan of £82,000,000 to £83,000,000. It will not be issued until tho Italian victory is complete. RED CROSS WORKERS PRISONERS OF ITALIANS LONDON, April 21 The Italians in Abyssinia are reported to. have captured several British Red Cross workers, including an Australian named Wienholt.