FIERCE FIGHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHTING

IN VICINITY OF MAKALE THE SITUATION CONFUSING (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ASMARA, January 13. Operations round Makale, where the situation is confusing, have flared up into fierce encounters, the Abyssinians pressing home vigorous attacks, which the Italians repuled with aeroplanes and artillery, driving back the Abyssinians all along the line and checking their attempts to hold adjacent mountain passes. The Italians claim that they killed 100 and wounded 100 Abyssinians, and have taken many prisoners. ITALIANS BOMB DABAT ADDIS ABABA, January 13. The Italians bombed Dabat, 75 miles north of Lake Tsana. There were no casualties and little damage. Dr Junod states that he is advising the International Red Cross at Geneva to withdraw all units from Abyssinia unless the Italians definitely guarantee not to bomb them. No doubt the bombing of the Swedish Red Cross was deliberate. The remainder of the members of the unit are now living in terror of their lives, being forced to treat the wounded in the surrounding forest out of sight of possible raiders. BROADCAST IN HINDUSTANI ROME, January 13. Italian war propaganda is now being regularly broadcast in Hindustani. THE MERANO MUTINY - LONDON, January 13. The Standard’s special correspondent despatched to Southern Tyrol to .investigate the anti-Italian demonstrations among the German-speaking populace confirms the reports of the Merano mutiny, and states that troops are being drafted every day from Italy to preserve order. He adds' that the frontier villages are filled with soldiers and armed police protected by barbed wire. Unrest, nevertheless, is increasing. Ten thousand deserters after the outbreak of the war reported to the relief organisations, who found some of them work in farms and hotels. Numbers have been sent to concentration camps in Switzerland, Jugoslavia and Germany. The major cause of resentment is that Italy is calling up all motor drivers in South Tyrol because their mountain experience is invaluable in Abyssinia. One driver abandoned his car on a snowy mountain side and tramped to Innsbruck. Relief organisations cover 500 miles of the frontier to help deserters. A prominent member, Dr Edward Reutnicolussi, discloses that 1700 German-speaking deserters have taken refuge in Germany and Austria. A detachment of the Italian army crossed the frontier and surrendered with machine guns and rifles to the North Tyrol police. Disturbances marked the entrainment of Tyrolean officer reservists for the front. Arrests were numerous.

FANTASTIC STORIES LONDON, January 13. The Brussels correspondent of The Times scouts the story of royal intervention in the Abyssinian war as fantastic. Rome officially confirms this, denying that Italy is in any urgent need of peace. ITALIAN EXPENDITURE LONDON; January 13. The Rome correspondent of The Times gays a royal decree authorises the expenditure of £10,000,000 for extraordinary needs in East Africa and the relief of needy families of soldiers at the front. TYROLEANS FLEE TO AUSTRIA LONDON, January 13. The Standard’s special correspondent at Innsbruck says that since the outbreak of the war 10,000 Tyroleans have fled to Austria. SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S HOPES LONDON, January 14. (Received Jan. 14, at 9.30 p.m.) The Paris correspondent of The Times says i lf lt is' understood that Signor Cerutti conveyed to M. Laval Signor Mussolini’s request for M. Laval’s support for the appointment of the League Committee of Investigation to proceed to Abyssinia. Apparently Signor Museolini hopes that the committee’s report on conditions on the' spot might lead to a basis of settlement acceptable to Italy. Responsible French opinion, however, does not favour the proposal. AntiItalian feeling is steadily hardening, while M. Laval himself is disinclined to take further initiative without real hope of success. * It has been pointed out that Signor Mussolini’s project would arouse more enthusiasm if accompanied by an intimation of readiness to suspend hostilities. Principal interest in the proposal lies in the indication that whatever Signor Mussolini may be saying at home he is now speaking a very different language abroad. It is also held to show that Signor Mussolini’s preference for forcible methods has been diminished by their hitherto unfruitful and unpleasant consequences.” BRITAIN AND FRANCE EXTENT OF CO-OPERATION LONDON, January 13. (Received Jan. T 4, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says the Cabinet is discussing oil sanctions in readiness for. the League meeting on January 20. It is understood that Captain Eden will press the Cabinet for approval of a policy on the lines of election declarations. Meanwhile? the amount of probable French assistance proves that Germany need not fear the result of the discussions between England and France, which led to only the slenderest working arrangement, by which naval co-operation will only give Britain the right to use French naval bases, docks and workshops, which alone might produce labour troubles. Moreover, the French fleet would not automatically be engaged as parliamentary approval is essential for general mobi-, lisation. Similarly the army would be limited to action within France, and aerial co-operation would be limited to signalling services placed at British disposal to enable Britain to be informed at the earliest of hostile planes passing over France and apparently destined for England. ■ The knowledge that Britain was not accorded greater support has produced the view that League members must strengthen themselves to ensure collective security.