"A GREAT VICTORY"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 7

"A GREAT VICTORY"

CLAIMED BY ITALIANS ABYSSINIANS RETREATING (United Press Association) {By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) HOME, February 17. Marshal Badoglio's communique states: -"The great battle which annihilated the army of Ras Mulugheta, numbering 80,000, began on February 10, culminating in a violent attack by our forces under the cover of a thick fog on February 15. The enemy, offered a very violent resistance on the whole front, but were everywhere overcome by infantry and Blackshirts, with most efficacious assistance from the artillery and the air arm, which, employed in masses, harried the enemy in attempting to retreat Large quantities of arms and material have fallen into our hands, ineluding the insignia of command and the decorations of Kas Mulugheta." Marshal Badoglio announces that Ras Mulugheta's armies are' retreating towards Fenaroa, Amba, and Alagi. They are maintaining formation and are not seeking cover, despite severe bombing by the Italian Air Force in massed forma-; tion. .... .'. The booty at Aradam includes six cannons, a quantity of rifles, swords, .sabres, machine guns, ammunition, live stock, and food. . The transport ship Sardegna na* Cached Port Said, en route to Massawa, with 85 doctors, 1500 medical assistants, and 10 ambulances on board. ITALIAN LEADER'S PRAISE ROME, February 17. Signor Mussolini has telegraphed to Marshal Badoglio: « The announcement of the great victory at Amba Aradam Has caused the soul ■of .jj the, -Itdum Seople to-throb with pride* and exultation. My fervid praise and the gratitude of the Fatherland go to you who Sted the battle and to the officers and rank and file who, with the virtue . of Romans, made victory possible. TEMBIEN NOT YET TAKEN ADDIS ABABA, February _ 17. Semi-official views minimise the Italian victory -at Enderta,. but ; admit heavy Abvssinian losses, explaining that tne defenders were too closely concentrated when the Italians began an intense bombardment in order to Cover the sortie from Makale. , . Marshal Badoglio's claim that the lost Tembien is .scouted by a member of the Red Cross Dr Brophil, whd denies that the Italians reached all the points the occupation of they claim, but their arrival at 1 Atalo has been confirmed. A FURTHER ADVANCE . ROME, February 17. Marshal Badoglio has started to follow up the reported victory, massing troops on the new front line with the object of cutting off supplies for Ras Kassa. • ". ~" ; ! A RISKY ADVANCE • . LONDON, February 17. ' :Maior Temperley, in the Daily Telegraph, describes the Italian advance as risky "The problem of communications is now greater than ever, as, extended, they are even more vulnerable, ]» says. "If Ras Kassa is still at Tembien he could make things most uncomfortable behind the Italian lines. It was a bold decision to move forward and leave a hornets' nest in the rear. V GENERAL GRAZIANI *.» ROME, February 17--A Mogadiscio message says that 40,000 natives paraded in.the streets shouting: -"Lon* live Graziani the Victorious! •when "the general arrived at Mogadiscio. ~ Speaking.from the Governor's Palace, s General Graziani declared:" The victory was ■ not wholly mine—it also belongs to the soldiers and workmen. We ■are°constantly beating the enemy in a sportsmanlike fight. The Colossus with •feet'of clay erected by-the sanctiomst Powers is beginning to totter. Through the will and strength, of Mussolini we will grip that Colossus by its paralysed leg. and pull it down. Victory is certain! " .-; COLONEL HOLT'S POSITION '■•"■' (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, February 17.

Mr. Anthony Eden, answering questions in the House of Commons, stated: " On February 13 his Majesty's Ambassador in Rome drew the attention of the Italian Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the recent statements in the , Italian press that Colonel Holt is acting las military adviser to the Emperor of Ethiopia, and that all Abyssinian munitions are of British" origin. Sir Eric Brummond emphasised that these allegations were completely unjustified, and that their publication had caused a deplorable impression in this country. Signbr Suyich's reception of this communication affords grounds for the hope that these misstatements will not be repeated." Information has been received from the British Minister in Addis Ababa (added Mr Eden) that colleagues of the Rev. Harold Street were arrested on January 28 at the mission station in the -Abyssinian province of Gamo. The incident, appears to have been due to a misunderstanding, and the missionaries are understood not to' have been in any serious' danger. They have telegraphed to Sir Sydney Barton, upon whose, intervention the Abyssinian Foreign Minister took up the matter with the Acting Governor of Shama, stating that they are free and in good health., MUTUAL ASSISTANCE (British Official Wifeless) RUGBY, February 17. The British reply to the Note which was communicated"to the Foreign Secretary by the Italian Ambassador in London, dealing with mutual assistance, says that the. position of his Majesty's Government remains as previously stated and that it does not feel that any useful purpose would be served by prolonged correspondence on the subject. EFFECT ON ABYSSINIAN MORALE LONDON, February 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily Mail's Rome correspondent says: "Marshal Badoglio has massed his troops on the newly established front in order to begin the encirclement of Tembieu, the initial phase being to cut the lines of supply to Ras Kassa's battered army by pushing westwards across Gheva Valley, eventually smashing the armie3 of Ras Kassa and Ras Imru. Observers emphasise the importance of the part played by aeroplanes in break-

ing up the Abyssinians' concentration at Enderta, some declaring that it was an airmen's victory." The Times Rome correspondent says: "The capture of Amba Aradam secured the Italians from counter-attack, allowing them to advance either southwards or towards Tembien. The moral effect of the victory is impressive because Mulugheta's army, the most formidable in Abyssinia, is trained and equipped on European lines, with artillery, antiaircraft and anti-tank guns, machine guns, and modern signalling apparatus. The capture of Amba Aradam was a magnificent feat of arms. Occupation of the mountain would he impossible without intense artillery fire under aerial direction."

Major Temperley, in the Daily Telegraph, expresses the opinion that while the Abyssinians await the attack in prepared positions, they will suffer defeat and demoralisation, ending in their complete destruction. Ras Desta, in the south, adopted the same tactics and met the same fate as Mulugheta at Amba Aradam. The Abyssinians can indefinitely delay the Italian advance by repeating the guerilla tactics which were so successful in Tembien. It would be an exaggeration to describe the battle as decisive, but the effect on Abyssinian morale may be considerable. Much will depend on the Emperor's ability to rally the army and impose a more suitable method of fighting upon the chiefs. ABYSSINIAN STRATEGY _»—;— LONDON, February 17. •■'•%.' (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) The Times Addis Ababa correspondent says: "The Italian advance from Makale, culminating in the battle as Enderta, though Dessye headquarters had long anticipated and prepared for it, cannot ye& be assessed in any detail owing to lack of information about the units involved. Mulugheta, in the middle of January, had a large, well-equipped, and well-fed army ou Amba Aradam. Dedjamatch Wodaju, Governor of Dessye, occupied a mountain position further south, with a levy from Wollo two-thirds the size of Mulugheta's detachment. This position was equally difficult for mechanised troops to attack. The "engagement, therefore, is believed to have been confined to Mulugheta's troops. In addition to Wodaju's army, there are large concentrations upon rocky strongholds at Amba Alagi and elsewhere. All these are about of equal size, and each soldier has ample ammunition and food supplies to last until the middle of the great rains. These garrisons were deliberately strung along the route in order to withstand -a sudden attack, while lateral communications with Lalibela and Takkaze Valley were developed in order to relieve the congestion if Mulugheta's and Wodaju's armies were forced to retreat. They might thus re-form on the right of the Italian advance and provide a second experience of the Tembien sort. Impartial "witnesses substantiate the Italian claim of southward progress, but Ras Seyoum, in Tembien, may still threaten the Italian communications, which are now busier than ever between Adigrat and Makale, to the rear of Marshal Badoglio's new front." AMERICA'S NEUTRALITY WASHINGTON, February 17 (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) Enforcing the rule of limited debate and allowing consideration of no amendments from the floor, the Administration leaders to-day forced through, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 353 to 27, a resolution extending, the present neutrality legislation until May 1, 1937.Thus the indications that the Administration had .definitely scrapped the, ambitious. permanent neutrality legislation were positively confirmed. In addition to renewing the mandate of the President concerning the embargo oh shipments, arms, ammunition, and" implements of war to belligerents, and the other provisions of the temporary law, to-day's resolution makes illegal loans and credits to belligerent Governments. The original law was also amended to exempt from its provisions "American countries at war with non-American Powers." This clause was added on the contention that in the event of a European Power being attacked by a South or Central American country the President would be legally forbidden to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. The resolution has been temporarily delayed in the Senate, but the leaders insisted that it must be passed as soon as possible, as the present law expires on February 29, and it is thought that Italy and Ethiopia might consider it an unfriendly act if the law was allowed to lapse and was then re-enacted. ITALIAN BOMBING RAIDS LONDON, February 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 5.5 p.m.) Four new " Savoia Eighty-one " aeroplanes dropped 90 2501 b bombs, 10 per cent, of which were duds, on an aerodrome on the bank of the Borkenna River, near Dessye. ■ Captain Haytor, pilot of an aeroplane presented to the Abyssinian Red Cross, who was visiting the aerodrome, had a lucky escape. A bomb dropped from one Savoia exploded under another machine's tail, apparently owing to coming in contact with a bomb from another plane. The pilot immediately proceeded homeward at full speed, but crashed in flames north of Wollo. Five of the six occupants were killed. Six machine-guns, six rifles and ammunition were found aboard. The pilot was severely injured. The Daily Mail's Addis Ababa correspondent says General Graziani's army is believed to be advancing on the line Sasabaneh-Daggabur-Jijiga, giving credence to the theory that Marshal Badoglio intends to press home a concerted offensive on both fronts. Fighting is reported to have broken out on the southern front from Ogaden to Harer with Nasibu's forces. Reinforced Italian troops drove out the Abyssinians from Lotullo, on the Canale Doria River, and advanced up the river against guerrilla bands. REJOICING IN ROME ROME, February 17. . (Received Feb. 18, at 5.5 p.m.) The capital is jubilant. Public monuments are floodlit and Fascist chiefs have organised torchlight processions. The police confiscated early editions of newspapers for excess zeal in breaking the prohibition against appearing before mid-day.