SERIOUS ATTACKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22708, 22 October 1935, Page 9

SERIOUS ATTACKS

EXPECTED BY ITALIANS TIGRE AND SOMALILAND FRONTS MASSING OF ABYSSINIAN TROOPS THREE SEPARATE CONCENTRATIONS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 20. (Received October 21, at 11.55 p.m.) The Times Rome correspondent says: “ The Italians expect serious attacks on the Tigre and Somaliland fronts respectively. The most important Abyssinian concentration is north of Shoa, between the Blue Nile and the plateau in the central zone of Wallo, commanding the roads radiating through Danakil, Assah, the Tigre, Amhara, Gojjam and Shoa. To this place Ras Mulugheta is marching to join Prince Assau and other chiefs. The total forces number 150,000, poorly armed. A second concentration is in the Ogaden area under Nassibu and Ras Desta, whose irregulars are estimated to number 100,000, with modern weapons. A third concentration is reported in the Temhien district to support Ras Seyoum, who fell back on Makale after the capture of Adowa.”—Times Cable.

ITALIANS SURROUNDED ADTGEiT, October 20. Dcssye horsemen report that betw- :n 500 and 700 Italians were cut off by Danakil tribesmen and surrounded in the hill country 15 miles from the French Somaliland frontier. The Italians formed a square with two tanks in the centre, and are reported to L short of food and water. DENIAL FROM ROME ROME, October 21. {Received Oct. 22, at 1 a.m.) It has been officially denied that Danakil tribesmen surrounded 500 to 700 Italians and that dumdum bullets and other brutalities were employed. ITALIANS’ SLOW PROGRESS LONDON, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 9.30 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s Asmara correspondent says: “ Rain halted General Graziani’s progress along the boundary of British Somaliland. Operations on the Eritrean front have been brought to a standstill except for roadmaking.” Major Temperley, recalling the Italian general staff’s reported warning to Signor Mussolini prior to the outbreak of hostilities that it might take three years to reach Addis Ababa and another three to subjugate Abyssinia, points out that the accompaniments of positional warfare, on which the Italians are priding themselves, are not so necessary as an immediate advance, “ Rains will return in May. How far will the Italians get at the present leisurely rate?” “A HIDE AND SEEK WAR ” ASMARA, October 20. (Received Oct. 21, at 10 p.m.) The reason why it is becoming a hide and seek war is Italian difficulty in ascertaining the whereabouts of Abyssinian troops in country which assists concealment. This is accentuated by the meagre reports of Italian airmen, though numberless daily reconnaissances are conducted. Even where groups of Abyssinians are reported their strength is unknown, and for that reason estimates must be guardedly accepted. The invaders, owing to the broken terrain, may “ methodically ” advance along the so-called Via Inglese —namely, the route followed by Lord Napier’s Magdala Expedition in 1 SOS, but this plan seems to overlook strong and increasing Abyssinian concentration around Makale, which lies between the Italian base and Magdala. FIERCE FIGHTING REPORTED LONDON, October 21. (Receiver! Oct. 22, at 1 a.m.) The Associated Press correspondent with the Italians on the southern front says: “Fierce fighting, in which the Abyssinians are believed to have suffered heavy casualties, has occurred. Air observers reported that a strong force of Abyssinians was marching southward along the Fafan River, and General Graziana, assuming that they were Nasibu’s flank, attacked and bombed and machine-gunned them from the air before dawn, preparatory to an attack by infantry transported under the cover of darkne.ss. The Abyssinians, after repulsing the first attack, were routed by reinforcements and fled towards Gorrahni. AN ABYSSINIAN DECREE LONDON, October 20. The Daily Telegraph’s Addis Ababa correspondent says the Emperor decreed (fiat troops must no longer invest villages on their way to the front or seize farmers’ live stock for provender All armies must pay for everything, except fodder. OVERLORD OF TIGRE PROVINCE A DIG RAT, Jetober 20. In a striking ceremony General de Bono proclaimed Gougsa iverlord of the Tigrc province. He said the customs of the country would not be disturbed and property would be protected EMBARGO ON ITALIAN EXPORTS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 19. The League Committee of Eighteen at Geneva unanimously adopted the proposal for an embargo upon exports from Italy. Two small reservations were made 'by Switzerland and Poland. The com-

mittee also unanimously passed suggestions for mutual support and proposals for an embargo on the export of key products to Italy. Captain Eden is planning to leave Geneva to-night, and Lord Cranborne will take his place as head of the British Delegation. SOUTH AFRICA’S ATTITUDE. (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 19. The newspapers give considerable prominence to the speech at lohannesburg by General Smuts, in which, referring to the war in Abyssinia, lie said 11 was impossible to conceive of a simpler or clearer case of violation of both the Covenant and the Paris Peace Pact. The League had unanimously found against Italy, and South Africa, which had been a loyal member from ’.he beginning would do her best to fulfil her obligations under the Covenant and support action for peace which the League was now working out in detail It was specially noted that General Smuts’s definition of the attitude of South Africa corresponds almost exactly with that of the British Government. He declared that in fulfilling her obligations under Article 16 if the Covenant South Africa had no private feeling against Italy, but was determined to do her part in strengthening the authority of the League and making it an effective force for world peace and security. “ If the League succeeds in the present crisis the prospects of world peace in the future will be immensely improved The practically unanimous support it is receiving is proof that in building up the League for world security we have not built in vain, and it will be a very grave warning to all possible future peace breakers,” he said. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEWS LONDON, October 20. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at the Whitefieids Tabernacle, compared the Government’s provision of £2,000,000 for distressed areas with an invitation to Britons to spend an extra £200,000,000 on machinery for human slaughter. He added that this was tantamount to admitting the abandonment of all efforts towards disarmament which, up to 1931, every nation took seriously. They were now rushing headlong towards a greater calamity than the world had yet seen. If the League had applied sanctions to Italy when Abyssinia appealed for the first time, or even for the second time, there would have been no war. It was a miserable tale of weakness and delay, bringing all the machinery of peace into contempt. Britons controlled the destiny of mankind in the next few weeks, and the world looked to Britain for leadership. Britain was the only country the world would follow. PEACE COUNCIL’S POLICY LONDON, October 20. The Peace Reconstruction Council announcing its policy, declares that the League must assure members, not only of security against aggression, but of satisfaction of their just needs. It urges vindication of the Covenant’s authority by a solution of the Abyssinian crisis on mutually fair terms, Italy’s communications in East Africa being severed until hostilities cease. The return of former members of the League should be induced by a fair settlement of their claims. Britain should propose a five years’ arms truce, with a fresh non-aggression pact. General access should ho given to raw materials, mandates reconsidered, migration laws modified, and reassembly of the Disarmament Conference arranged. KENYA’S NEUTRALITY MOMBASA, October 20. In accordance with British instructions and in conformity with international rules of neutrality, apart from sanctions, the Kenya Government has ordered the Italian steamer Sursqm Corda, which anticipated loading 1000 tons of coal, to sail within 24 hours, taking only 125 tons, sufficient to reach Italian Somaliland. BANK OF ITALY’S RESERVES LONDON, October 20. The Bank of Italy’s gold and exchange reserves-fell by £3,500,000 to £73,200,000 in the first ten days in October.