THE ITALIAN SUCCESSES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13088, 23 October 1935, Page 5

THE ITALIAN SUCCESSES.

AIUNITIONS FOR ABYSSINIA. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 21. Ras Seyourn having repaired the telephone wire which Ras Gougsa cut sent a message to the Emperor expressing horror at Gougsa’s behaviour. The Emperor has given Ras Gougsa’s dominions to Has Seyoum A Rom© message says that though it is claimed that General Graziani’s operations in tho Ogaderi area have foiled the Abyssinian plan being carried out under Ras Rasta and Nas Nasibu with the supervision of the Turkish General, AVehib Pasha, they have not substantially advanced the Italian line. General Graziani on October 18 since when, rain ha, s halted operations, decided to straighten his line and used native soldiers, namely Askaris and irregular bands of Somalis under Italian officers, who' stormed the fortified rocky height of Daglierei in the Sciaveli region between Rerdale and Gorahai overlooking the AVebbo Shibeli river and the roughlyfortified village of Degamboko where the Abyssinians had concentrated arms and ammunition.

Ten aeroplanes dropped bombs, swooped and machine-gunned the position. Five aeroplanes were inedfectively hit with rifle bullets. Tho Somalis advanced in skirmishing order in a rainstorm and drove out tlnq defenders into the bush. The Italians claim the Abyssinians lost 50 dead, and many wounded. Scores of prisoners with two cannons and two machine-guns and ammunition were taken. The Italian losses were 14 natives killed and 40 natives wounded.

Simultaneously the Italians st nailed and fired on the* village of Berdale, 60 miles from the border and 40 miles from the* AVebbe Shibeli river, securing a fertile oasis'. These details show that the claims of an Italian advance to the neighbor irhoel of Harrar are exaggerated as their lino which is 400 miles long is less than a hundred miles from the actual border of Abyssinian territory at any point.

An Asmara (Eritrea) message says there is nothing new on the Eritrean front except reconnaissances. It is rep oi-ted that 12,000 Tigre natives, mostly peasants, have submitted to Italian rule. Apparently only 3000 of Gougsa’s followers are willing to join the invaders as fighting men.

General c!e Bono has rewarded with money 11 Askaris who fought beside the Italians at Adowa. in 1893 They had all lost their hands and fi-i t which the Abyssinian captors cut off after the battle. Fifteen others will be rewarded later. DIFFERENT COMPLEXION. LONDON. October 21. The News-Chronicle’s Addis Ababa correspondent says guns and ammunition are new pouring into EthiopiaA military authority declares that if the rate is maintained the Abyssinians will be irresistible in guerilla warfare within three months. SICK ITALIANS. LONDON, October 22. The Times’ Port Said correspondent says the hospital ship California traversed the Suez Canal to Italv with 686 sick labourers, tire largest sick shipment that has yet passed through tbe canal. Th© patients are described as completely dejected and worn out.

I überculosis. is reported to lx life among the Italian labourers in Eritrea owing to exposure to low air pressure, lack of water and bad food.

The Abyssinian Legation in London states that it has impartial technical evidence to substantiate the charge that Italy is using poison gas and dumdum explosive billies. It adds: “We warn tin* Italian forces that ii they continue to use such ghastly methods against a simple, unarmed people it will not he possible notwithstanding the Emperor’s order to restrain the wilder bereaved section of th© Abyssinian army from retaliating with some similar savag * method on Italian prisoners. AYe therefore humbly and earnestly beg the Italian Ambassador, instead of troubling to deny what is true, to kindly advise his people to tight fairly if they must fight a brave, unarmed people.”