MARCH BEGUN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22404, 28 April 1936, Page 11

MARCH BEGUN

ITALIAN FORCES ADVANCE ON CAPITAL COLUMN LEAVES DESSYE MOTOR EQUIPMENT AMAZING ROADMAKING By Teleprrapli—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 27, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 27 Despatches from Dessye state that an Italian column equipped with motor traction —one of the largest of its type formed since the campaign began—has commenced the advance on Addis Ababa. It left there at dawn to-day and proceeded southwards over the " Imperial highway" leading to the capital. Although it is expected that Addis Ababa will be occupied without fighting, heavy guns and armoured cars have been sent in readiness for resistance. The Daily Telegraph's special correspondent with the Italian Army at Dessye says it is hoped to occupy the capital within a fortnight. " I have just travelled 500 miles from Asmara in six days," says the correspondent. " I am amazed by the progress of the invaders. The labour corps is literally hewing a road over the mountains. Dessye is as fair and as green as England and is like a beautiful oasis to the troops who have struggled over crags in the burning heat of the cactus-covered lands of Northern Abyssinia." It is reported from Abyssinia that advance troops of the Sabauda Division of the Northern Italian armies occupied Ankobcr, 80 miles from Addis Ababa, without firing a shot. The southern Italian armies captured Hamanlei and destroyed the Abyssinians' fortified line at Daggamodo-Bul-lale-Sasa Baneh. The Italian losses are computed at 38 killed and 676 wounded. Three thousand motor-lorries laden with food and munitions are concentrated at Dessye in preparation for the thrust toward Addis Ababa. A strong column has taken a circuitous route known as the "summer trail" toward the capital, and is reported tc be meeting with no resistance. A communique issued in Borne states that General Agostini's troops captured Gumagado, eastward of Sasa Baneh, the Abyssinian losses being heavy—looo dead were counted. The capture of Daggamodo is confirmed, also the repulse of an Abyssinian counter-attack. RUNAWAY AIRMAN EMPEROR'S EXPERT MYSTERY OF WHEREABOUTS (Received April 27, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, April 27 The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says nothing has been heard of M. Rene Drouillet, the Ethiopian Emperor's aerial expert, since he ascended from Villa Coublay yesterday after he was allowed to enter his aeroplane for the avowed object of testing the brakes. All France is awaiting news of the socalled runaway airman, for whose arrest a warrant has been issued. t M. Drouillet had sufficient petrol with which to fly to North Africa, where, however, he would be arrested. Accordingly, it is believed that he landed in a field in the south of France, where friends provided him with more petrol to enable him to reach Abyssinia. The Government has ordered his aeroplane to be impounded nominally owing to technical infringements, but really to avoid offending Italy. INFORMATION REFUSED REBUKE BY GENEVA REPLY FOR THE RED CROSS 1 . GENEVA, April 2G The president of the International Bed Cross Committee, M. Max Huber, has replied to the rebuke of the Committee of Thirteen for his organisation's refusal to supply information about the bombing of the Red Cross by Italians. M. Huber says the organisation is obliged to avoid action savouring of a political character and must always retain the confidence of both belligerents.