MARSHAL’S BOOK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19199, 16 December 1936, Page 9

MARSHAL’S BOOK

ABYSSINIAN WAR BADOGLIO’ S CAMPAIGN LONDQN, Nov. 4. Marshal Badoglio’s account of the Abyssinian war, which is now on sale in Italy, gives v a straightforward story of the operations ho directed in language that civilians can understand. It describes the confusion that reigned on the Makale front and in the harbour at Massawa. when he succeeded General do Bono as Commander-iii-Chicf in November, 1935. The scarcity of roads and tho terrible condition of those that'did exist caused him “anguish,” he declares. The left wing of the Italian army was almost isolated. Ail advance, was impossible except at the risk of being overwhelmed and thrown back into Eritrea. The delay caused by the urgent need of consolidating his position brought Marshal Badoglio a storm of criticism from home, but ho stood firm. By the middle of December he was ready to continue the war. Has Imru, with between 40,000 and 50,000 men, had resumed his advance in the Scire. The Marshal decided-to open his offensive in the Tembicn.. He was rather anxious at first about the result, but be won three battles in succession, the second battle of Tembicn, the battle of Euclcrta, and Hie battle of Scire. EMPEIROR’S RETREAT Ras Muluguetta was killed in action, and then Ras Ivassu and Ras Seyoum hesitated about what line to take. RaS Imru retreated on Gojjam, which was already in revolt. The Italian High Command intercepted a message from Addis Ababa to the Klmperor, advising him to negotiate for a settlement so as to gain time for reconstructing the army. Marshal Badoglio describes his intense relief when he learned some weeks later that tho Emperor had rallied the bulk ol his army to give battle at Lake Ashangi. He had been afraid that he would retreat on Desso, thus forcing the Italians to fight a big battle several hundred miles away from their base. The result of the battle of Ashangi was fatal to the independence of the Abyssiuians. The Emperor lost the bulk of his army and his equipment, and retreated in baste and great danger towards Addis Ababa. This was early in April. On April 20 Marshal iiadogiio advanced with his headquarters and 12 large bombing aeroplanes to Desse. Ho says that the terrible loads were his worst enemies. After reconditioning his weary troops for a short time at Quorum, lie made a scries of forced marches to Addis Ababa. He affirms that tho foreign legations in that city implored him to hurry and restore order because Haile Selassie had fled and the utmost confusion and anarchy reigfied. The advance took him 10 days and nights, which were an endless struggle against fog, blazing sunshine, and roadmending, as the army moved forward. At 4 o’clock in the. afternoon of May 5 ho entered Addis Ababa at the head of his troops.