VICTORY OVER THE EMPEROR

Southland Times, Issue 22856, 3 April 1936, Page 7

VICTORY OVER THE EMPEROR

Badoglio’s Claim VIOLENT BATTLE NEAR LAKE ASHANGI ABYSSINIAN CHARGE REPULSED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.40 p.m.) London, April 1. A message from Rome states that a communique from Marshal Badoglio claims that the Abyssinian Emperor, who is leading his best troops, was defeated in a battle of great violence in the Lake Ashangi zone. It is officially announced that 7000 Abyssinians were killed, compared with Italian losses of 63 white soldiers killed and 196 wounded and 8000 Eritreans wounded.

As Major-General A. C. Temperley points out, it is too soon to judge the effect of the battle in the Lake Ashangi region, because the information about it is solely from the Italian side. The Italian account claims that the victory opens the road to Dessie, the heart of Abyssinia. The action began with an Italian advance along the western shore of Lake Ashangi which threatened the Imperial Abyssinian bodyguard, under Ras Tasfu, who attacked in order to extricate himself. The Abyssinians, abandoning their European training, rushed, screaming and brandishing rifles, upon the Italians, smashing their way, despite a galling fire, to the very nozzles of massed machine-guns, where hand-to-hand fighting became desperate on a three-mile front. Reckless Charging. The Abyssinians charged three times with reckless gallantry, so closely involving themselves with the Italians that they defeated the air force’s efforts to secure a target. The aeroplanes consequently concentrated upon the Abyssinian artillery with bombs and macliine-guns, silencing the last field piece after 90 minutes’ activity. The Abyssinians, despite tremendous losses, continued their attempts to outflank and encircle the Italians. They had partly succeeded until the advent of the Alpine Division, which charged and smashed the Abyssinian centre, aeroplanes following up its retreat along the Mecan Valley. The Abyssinians on the left wing still defied the Italians, inflicting heavy losses on the second Askari division, until the Italians counter-attacked and routed the enemy, who left a field covered with their dead. The mechanized column which occupied Gondar left immediately the other columns arrived, and occupied the shores of LZ<e Tsana, within the sphere of British influence which Signor Mussolini undertook to respect if Britain did not oppose his colonial pro-

gramme. It is denied in Addis Ababa that the Italians have occupied Gondar.

BRITISH VERSION OF BOMBING DETAILS OF DAMAGE TO HARAR. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, April 1. Questioned in the House of Commons about the bombing of Harar on March 29, the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) cited reports received from the British representatives in Ethiopia stating that the raid was carried out by 18 Italian aircraft which circled wide three times at about 6000 feet, and dropped in all approximately 300 bombs. Three bombs fell on the Swedish Mission compound, 50 in that of the Egyptian Red Cross, 14 on the Catholic Mission, and four on the French hospital and agency, and four on the Harar Red Cross, destroying a Red Cross ground sign five yards square. The Catholic Church and the Abyssinian Church of St. Xavier were also badly damaged. The number of casualties was fortunately small, as the town was evacuated before the raid. Mr Eden said the Abyssinian Government had issued a communique denying reports from Italian sources that military preparations had been made in the town.