THE EMPEROR IN ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 22873, 24 April 1936, Page 7

THE EMPEROR IN ACTION

Swoop From Hills DEFINITE CHECK TO ITALIANS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, April 22. The Addis Ababa correspondent of The Daily Telegraph corroborates the holding up of the Italian advance by the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince launched a frontal offensive north of Warra Hailit, while the Emperor, with the remnants of the Imperial Guard strengthened by fresh levies, swooped from the mountains north-west of Dessie upon the Italian lines of communication. Both sides suffered heavily, but all Italian counter-attacks were repulsed. The Abyssinians claim that they repulsed further Italian attempts to advance along the Dessie-Addis Ababa road over the Tarmar Bur mountain, subsequently routing an enemy column during a night attack. Roads Being Blown Up.

The bursting of Italian air bombs merges with detonations of dynamite, with which the Abyssinians are hurtling the road and its abutments in tons of shattered shale down the hillside, in order to block the enemy’s passage to the capital. The scene is a pass leading from the Shulameda Plain over the Tarmar Bur barrier to the plateau on which Addis Ababa stands, 124 miles distant. Hundreds of workmen toil feverishly to divert streams to flood the roadway, which the resultant waterfalls are tearing to pieces, rendering the progress of motorized units impossible. Warriors are digging pitfalls to entrap the armoured cars and tanks and constructing gun emplacements and strong posts. The first explosive charge was fired immediately after the passage of the Dutch Red Cross lorries, severing commu: ication between Dessie and Addis Ababa. Messages received in Rome state that a battle is raging near Salla Dingai, 75 miles north-east of Addis Ababa. Flooded Streams. It is reported from Mogadishu that a storm on Sunday broke over the whole of the Southern front, interrupting wireless communication and delaying flying. Flooded streams are bringing down hundreds of Abyssinian corpses. Impeded by the heavy rains, necessitating the remaking of the roads, all General Graziani’s columns are advancing from the Gianagobo battlefield in order to concentrate upon Sasa Baneh on the heels of Ras Nasibu's retreating Abyssinians, who are given no rest, in the hope of completing their disorganization. The Abyssinians in the south, under Sehib Pasha, are maintaining a stout resistance. NO CAUSE FOR PANIC CIVILIANS IN ADDIS ABABA. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 10.0 p.m.) London, April 23. The British Minister at Addis Ababa (Sir Sidney Barton) declares that any civilian panic in the capital is entirely unjustified. He davises that the British subjects will carry on with their normal work. Britons, Indians and Arabs are behaving splendidly, he says.