THE ITALIAN TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22714, 29 October 1935, Page 9

THE ITALIAN TROOPS

NOW IN DIFFICULT COUNTRY PROGRESS SLOW AND LABORIOUS GENERAL ADVANCE ORDERED POPE'S APPEAL FOR PEACE (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 28. (Received October 29, at 0.15 a.m.) The News-Chronicle asserts that while the Pope was broadcasting his peace appeal Signor Mussolini wirelessed orders to Abyssinia for an offensive to begin on October 28. The Times Addis Ababa correspondent says: " Aeroplane reconnaissance intelligence reports regarding Makale indicate that little opposition can be expected there. The battalions are almost within striking distance, but preparations I for a general advance of the whole line are not yet complete. Much of the country south of Aksum and Adowa has not been explored and maps record heights only by trigonometry. In view of the necessity of road construction, progress in this area will be slow and laborious."

THE BATTLE FRONTS ITALIANS ADVANCING ASMARA, October 27. Italian sources, while not yet establishing the fact of a general advance towards Makale, confirm preparatory operations conforming to Napier's line of advance from Edagamus to Magdala. General Diamants, with a Black Shirt battalion, accompanied by irregular native bands with two brigades of Askaris, occupied the village of Adi Mesas after advancing 10 miles from the right wing of General Biroli's native army at Samaieta, just north of Adowa. The advance guard of the Italian left wing reached Debra Sion and consolidated their position in readiness for further efforts. A detachment of General Biroli's forces is still moving along the Farasmai Valley unopposed. THE ABYSSINIAN COMMANDS '■•-•••'■• LONDON, October 28. (Received Oct. 28, at 11 p.m.) The Daily. Express's Harrar correspondent says:. "Dedjazmatch Afework, commander of the southern fortress of Gorahai, warned the Abyssinian general staff at Addis Ababa on October 25 that an Italian attack was believed to.be imminent, but there has. been no further news and the field wireless station has been silent during the past 24 hours, greatly to' Sellassie's anxiety. The station was probably destroyed by. bombs during the Italian reconnaissance work, which extended to Sasabaneh, midway between Ual Ual and Jijiga. Nasibu has taken over command of the left wing of the Jijiga army, while Tessama Batna, from Dire Dawa, succeeds him at Harrar. Ras Desta will command the right wing." .. The Times Addis Ababa correspondent says: "The Abyssinian Crown Council and the foreign advisers discussed the northern strategical position and advised Se'youm to fight strongly before Makalle but not to. defend it to the last man, for the reason that if an.attack is pressed MakaUe will certainly fall without Ras Kassa's troops' being thrown into the defensive from the rear of Seyouiu's line. It is doubtful whether the Tigreons will submit to this strategy, and they may get out of hand." CASES OF TYPHOID ' ROME, October 27. Sir Aldo Castellani reports that cases of typhoid have occurred among the Italian troops, but no deaths. The health of the natives in the occupied zones is also satisfactory. Cases of leprosy have been detected among the prisoners of war, but the medical corps is prepared for that. Leprosy these days is by no means incurable, and its spread can be prevented. ; Sir Aldo Castellani is Director-in-Chief of the Ross Institute and Hospital and lecturer at the London School of Tropical Medicine. During the war he was a lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Italian -Medical Service. He is chiefly known for his discovery of the etiological agents of sleeping sickness and yaws. A NOCTURNAL ATTACK LONDON, October 27. (Received Oct. 28, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily Mail's Asmara correspondent says: "The Abyssinians made a nocturnal attack on an Italian blockhouse on the northern bank of the Setit River, in Eritrea, adjacent to the Sudan. The Abyssinians crossed the river on rafts, but the alarm was given and Italian Verey lights afforded Italian machine guns an admirable target, the Abyssinians being repulsed, losing 100 dead and many wounded. Before Makale is attainable Has Seyoum's main body, supported by Ras Kassa, must be reckoned with. The nearest Italian forces are still at least 30 miles from Makale, with the most difficult terrain before them." DEFENCE OF TEMBIEN HILLS ROME, Octobe" "7. (Received Oct. 28, at 5.5 p.m.) If the Abyssinians defend Tembien Hills, near Makale, they will be bombed out from the air. Thr real resistance is expected near Amba (Mount) Alagi, ah 11,000-foot mountain overlooking Makale from the south , GERMANY'S NEUTRALITY . PARIS, October 27. A French newspaper reports "err Hitler in an interview as saying that Germany will not agree to cease all

trade with the belligerents, but to prove, her love of peace will not furnish .rms to either of the adversaries. Having taken no part, Germany would Le the natural arbitrator in the dispute at the opportune moment. THE LEAGUE'S EFFORTS APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS (British Official Wireless i RUGBY, October 26. Captain Eden will leave London for Geneva, on October 30 to be present at a meeting of the Co-ordination Committee of the League, which will be held on the following day to consider the replies of the various Governments in regard to the putting into execution of financial and economic sanctions. The hopes that had been entertained in some quarters that a settlement of the ItaloAbyssinian war might be effected before the measures of pressure upon Italy were put into effect are unlikely to be realised. Those hopes were mainly based on .Franco-Italian exchanges, but so far as the nature of any of the proposals which have been revealed in these exchanges is known here they are not regarded as justifying the League in postponing the date of, the application of economic sanctions, and in responsible quarters here it is felt that the Geneva Powers will have no alternative but to proceed with the measures already agreed upon in principle as offering the best means of hastening a settlement on terms acceptable to Italy, Abyssinia, and the League. A special supplement to the London Gazette, which was published to-day, contains an Order in Council issued under the Treaty of Peace Act, 1919. It provides for the application of certain sanctions against Italy throughout Great Britain and all British colonies (except those administered by the Government of a dominion), all British protectorates, and all territories in respect of which a mandate on behalf of the League of Nations has been accepted by his Majesty and is being exercised by his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The order is dated October 25, and it provides that on and after that date no goods of any description set out in Part 1 of the schedule to the order shall be exported to Italian territory from a port or place in the United Kingdom, and that on and after such date as the Board of Trade may appoint no goods of any description set out in Part 2 of the schedule shall be so exported. Part 1 contains a detailed list of arms and munitions of war approved at Geneva, and Part 2 contains a list of certain, key products. The Order in Council further provides that on and after such date as the Board of Trade may appoint no goods consigned from or grown, produced, or manufactured in Italian territory shall be imported into the United Kingdom except gold or silver, bullion or coin. It is further provided that on any such date as the Treasury may appoint no person shall in the United Kingdom, first, make, contribute, or participate in or assist in the making or the issue of any loan to or for the benefit of a Government of any Italian territory or any person not being a body corporate, of whatever nationality, resident in any such territory, or any person, wherever resident, being a body corporate, incorporated under the law of any such territory. Secondly, no such person shall offer for subscription, underwrite, or otherwise assist in the issue of or subscribe for any shares wherever issued or to be issued in any such body corporate. The dates to be appointed by the Board of Trade for putting into operation the above economic sanctions will accord with the decisions reached at Geneva, where the Co-ordination Committee will meet on October 31. In regard to financial sanctions the Treasury has to day made an order appointing October 29 as the date on and after whieh this article of the Order in Council will have effect. "KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN" LONDON, October 28. (Received Oct. 29, at 0.15 a.m.) The Times Paris correspondent says: "The Italian belief that Britain flatly turned down Signor Mussolini's proposals is unjustified. While they do not stand the slightest chance of acceptance in London in their present form responsible opinion considers them merely as the first phase of a period of hard bargain- : ing. France nml Britain are anxious to" avoid slamming the door which M. Laval has kept open, and will probably submit to Italy their own suggestions for an equitable settlement." AUSTRIAN PIG IRON FOR ITALY LONDON, October 28. (Received Oct. 29, at 1 a.m.) The Times Rome correspondent says Italy is importing from Austria 150.000 quintals of. pig iron and 100.000 quintals of steel blocks, duty free, before I March 30, 1930.

SACRIFICES BY ITALIANS ROME, October 28. (Received Oct. 28, at 10.30 p.m.) " Difficult days approach, during which great sacrifices will be necessary, but Italy is ready," is the attitude towards sanctions as expressed in leading newspaper articles. Dr Gayda says: " Italian emigrants who sweated to make Tunis, Brazil and Algeria beautiful will labour again on behalf of the Fatherland." He adds: " Italy's conflict in Europe is more severe than "the Abyssinian campaign."