ABYSSINIAN RAIDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18960, 10 March 1936, Page 5

ABYSSINIAN RAIDS

BRITISH TERRITORY

INCIDENTS IN SUDAN

LONDON, Jan. 24

Disturbances on the Sudan-Abyssmian frontier during 1954 are mentioned in the report on the Sudan which was recently issued. Among the "incidents" dealt with are the kidnapping of eight Sudan subjects by an Abyssinian brigand, an armed encounter between an Arab corps patrol - and poachers from over the border, and the planting of the Abyssinian flag by an invading chieftain 30 miles inside the Sudan frontier. On January 26, the report states, news was received that Dedjasmatch Yahia Awad, a notorious frontier brigand, who had been the subject of frequent representations to the Abyssinian Govemment, had kidnapped eight Sudan subjects, and carried them off to rebuild his house at Abdel Ran, which lies two miles within the Abyssinian border. Representations at Addis Ababa resulted in prompt measures being, taken for his arrest, and though Dediaßmatch Yahia succeeded first in evading the officer sent for this purpose, he was apprehended in March, and removed to Debra 'Tabor.

At the end of February, the report continues a patrol of the Eastern Arab Corps encountered a party of armed Abyssinian poachers on the River Atbara. On being summoned to surrender, the Abyssinians opened fire, which was returned. One Abyssinian was wounded, two others with rifles escaped, and the remainder surrendered.

In March, the district commissioner visited the Eoma plateau, which lies in the Upper Nile province on the border of. Abyssinia. Immediately after his departure the plateau was occupied by Abyssinian troops, who remained there, despite representations made at Addis Ababa, until the end of the year. The British Consul for South-western Abyssinia, it is stated, "visited the Boma plateau at the beginning of December, and found Kaiiyasmatch Ayella and a party of Abyssinian soldiers still in occupation. Despite the consul's formal protests, the Kanyasmatch, who stated that he was acting under instructions, followed the consul to the Beir village of Towarth, and there displayed the Abyssinian flag." The report adds that this was not taken seriously by either consul or natives, since Boma lies at a distance of about 30 miles inside the Sudan frontier, as denned by the Treaty of May 15, 1902. Representations were, however, made on this subject by the British Minister at Addis Ababa to the Abyssinian Government.