ANOTHER RAID

Southland Times, Issue 22783, 8 January 1936, Page 5

ANOTHER RAID

RED CROSS VIOLATED ETHIOPIAN AMBULANCE BOMBED BRITISHERS ON STAFF (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, January 6. Confirmation has been received in London from the British Minister in Addis Ababa (Sir Sidney Barton) of the reports in circulation over the week-end that another ambulance unit in Abyssinia had been bombed by Italian aircraft. The unit attacked was the Ethiopian Red Cross Ambulance No. 1, situated at Daggah Bur, which was staffed by Egyptian and British personnel. The unit was bombed and machine-gunned by Italian aeroplanes on January 4. It appears that there were no casualties among the foreign staff during previous bombardments- at Daggah Bur and the immunity of the Red Cross unit, which was at some distance from the town, was respected. _ A member of the staff of the British Legation is being sent to the spot to investigate and report on all the circumstances. _ A Press message from Addis Abaoa reports that three more wounded Abyssinians attached to the Swedish Red Cross unit at Dolo, which was recently bombed by Italian aeroplanes, were brought to the capital to-day in an aeroplane piloted by Baron von Rosen. The condition of Dr. Fride Hylander, the wounded Swedish doctor, who was brought to Addis Ababa on Saturday, is improving. Twenty more wounded involved in the air raid on the Swedish Red Cross have died and the death roll is now 50. It is impossible to treat the survivors, except behind bushes with ordinary knives, as all the surgical instruments were destroyed in the raid. Baron von Rosen has brought photographs showing ghastly wounds with the victims’ hands puffed out with mustard gas. An appeal to enable an additional Red Cross unit to be sent to Abyssinia met with a quick and generous response, according to the British Red Cross Society. HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS SOUTHERN RIVER-VALLEYS. AIRMAN’S ACHIEVEMENT EXTOLLED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, January 6. The Addis Ababa correspondent of The Times says that besides the three wounded from the Swedish Red Cross Baron von Rosen brought back to Addis Ababa Pastor Svenson, actingleader of the Swedish unit, who is awaiting instructions from Sweden. Pastor Svenscn describes the bombardments in the Juba and Ganale Dorya valleys as continual and heavy, but usually ineffective because the Italians blindly fire into the riverside palm belts in which the Abvsr'nians are taking refuge. Nugelli has been twice attacked from the air, the second bombardment resulting in 500 bomb holes, six deaths and six houses being destroyed. Pastor- Svenson corroborates the deliberateness of the attack on the Swedish Red Cross and says that ten planes bombed and machine-gunned the Red Cross camp only, though it had been specially roped off to prevent, the entry of anyone except wounded Abyssinians. Local airmen extol Baron von Rosen’s flight under the most difficult conditions of load and altitude over unknown country with inadequate maps, the most accurate of which show. 1 that Nugelli was 28 miles off its actual -osition, in a plan, whereas it is surrounded by deep gorges almost devoid of landing room. Baron von Rosen at first picked a spot to land, after which he convinced the non-Amharic speaking natives who were covering him with rifles that he was not an Italian. He persuaded one to enter the second pilot s seat and learned from l.im the actual whereabouts of Nugelli. He brought back films, taken by members of the unit, of the wreckage and the appalling condition of the wounded. ALL-DAY CONFLICT ABYSSINIANS ROUTED BY AIRCRAFT. HAND-TO-HAND ENCOUNTERS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, January 6. A message from Dessie says that General Graziani’s aircraft, operating on the southern border of Abyssinia, proved a deciding factor in a 24-hour conflict on January 1 between Askaris and several thousand of Ras Desta s troops in the Areri region between Lake Huku and the . Ganale Dorya river, 20 miles north of Dolo. General Badoglio claims the destruction of an Abyssinian camp, 150 of its defenders being killed, including the chieftain, and 100 wounded, including 40 prisoners, with the loss of one Italian and four Askaris killed and la Askaris wounded. The Askaris launched an attack, firing volleys from machine-guns and rifles from 20 armoured cars- The Abyssinians were protected by a double line of trenches and fought desperately all day to prevent encirclement. Skirmishes continued throughout the night, developing into bloody hand-to-hand encounters. Daybreak showed the Italians to be almost surrounding the Abyssinian position. Aeroplanes then swooped down and bombed the Abyssinians, whose disordered ranks were finally scattered by an Askaris charge behind whippet tanks. A burst of fire immobilized an armoured car, but the crew held out by firing at the surrounding Abyssinians until the Askari charge rescued them. . . The victors pursued the fugitives and captured the Amino village in the Malkagoto district. This is the first action in the southern area in which an Italian life has been lost. In the northern area General Badoglio, while admitting that two Italians and two Askaris were killed and four wounded, claims a success in patrol skirmishes. He does not state the Abyssinian losses. BRITAIN REVILED “DIRTY IN PRIVATE LIFE.” (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Rome, January 6. The newspaper II Tevere bitterly attacks England, declaring: “The British are moralists in public life but are dirty in private life.” NO OBJECTION TO INQUIRY. It is officially announced that Italy, asserting that she has nothing to hide, will not oppose the Abyssinian demand for the despatch of a committee of inquiry to the war front.