FRESH ADVANCE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1935, Page 5

FRESH ADVANCE

ATTACK BY ITALIANS OTHER TOWNS OCCUPIED ABYSSINIANS’ DEFENCE CONSOLIDATION OF FRONT VAST RESERVE AT DESSIE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 25. A fresh Italian advance is announced from Wardair, culminating in the occupation of Gerlogubi with the object of cutting off Gorahai. Abyssinians from Bale, who are in great numbers, are at Imi and Karanle, one on each side of the Webbe Shibeli Valley. They are making contact with Harrar troops at Dagamodo and Danan and are therefore in touch with Eastern Ogaden through Dagahbur, south-west of Harrar, and Gabridihari, 50 miles west of Gerlogubi, both on the Fafan River. It remains for Ras Desta, north of Imi, to make contact with the Bale troops for the Abyssinians’ southern line to be well-knit, but provisioning is difficult. The Gorahai field radio has informed the Government that Italians with 10 aeroplanes occupied Taferekatama and Shelabo, the southernmost posts in Ogaden, on October 18. The small garrisons in these posts have been withdrawn. The Italians thus command both roads from Firfir and Moustahil (which they built in 1930) to Gorahai. Since they hold the third track from Gerlogubi they can soon bombard the Abyssinians support positions at Gabridihari with a view to an early advance.

Reports from the southern front state that motor machine-guns, sent in pursuit of fleeing Abyssinians, sank axle deep in mud, compelling the crews to dig them out. As a result there were only in time to pick up some Abyssinian wounded. The Rome correspondent of the Times states that the Italian occupation of Callarfro, capital of the Sciavelli region, on October 20, also the Shebeli villages, is officially confirmed, numerous chiefs making submission. “REFUSAL TO MARCH.” The correspondent says that foreign missionaries arriving at Asmara from the interior of Abyssinia declare that only the Amhara tribesmen in the Wollega district west of Addis Ababa have answered the call to mobilisation. Galal tribesmen have refused to inarch and there is some indication of a rebellion. Ras Kassa, who had only four months’ food for his forces round Gondar, may therefore hasten his attack on the right flank of the Italian line in the north, i The Addis Ababa correspondent of the Times says that Ras Getatchu of Kafa and Dedjazmatch Hapta Mariam of Wallega Mekempti, amid the thunder of war drums, led 15,060 soldiers to the palace accompanied by Red Cross women in white dresses, riding mules. They saluted the Emperor. Getatchu, whose bulk and physiognomy are reminiscent of Henry VIII., exclaimed: “My father shoved shells back down the Italian cannon at Adowa; I shall try my own stratagems on their sons.” Getatchu added that he had formerly wanted to fight Lij Eyassu (rebel chief now in captivity) and Ras Gougsa, but was not allowed. Getatchu was formerly the Abyssinian Minister at Paris. ATTACK ON STRONGHOLD. The Exchange’s correspondent says that details of Olal Dinle’s attack on Geledi, on the right bank of the Shibeli River, north-west of Dagnerei, show that the Abyssinians fortified themselves on the flank of a south-western spur of the Dentral plateau in a position known, as the Monkey Mountain owing to its perpendicular sides. They considered the position impregnable, but Olal, with 1000 followers, made a nocturnal divergence, bringing the main body of his. force round the back of the mountain and Leaving two parties of 50 apiece on each side for a frontal attack on the cliff. His main body attacked at dawn, supported by six machine-guns, while aeroplanes bombed and threw grenades on the defenders and blew up their ammunition dump. Olal ordered a strategic retreat, upon which the Abyssinians charged, but Olal’s two parties of 50, who had clambered panther-like up each end of the cliff, opened fire into the backs of the Abyssinians with their own two mach-ine-guns and four machine-guns which the Abyssinians had left behind. Olal’s main body turned and counter-charged, hemming in the Abyssinians, who surrendered. The Cairo correspondent of the Times says that a battalion of the First Manchester Regiment from the West Indies has disembarked at Port Said, and the Second Sussex, from India, are at Suez in order to reinforce the British garrison. . The British United Press special correspondent at Addis Ababa says that vast Abyssinian reserves are converging at Dessie, from which the majority of the huge concentrations are departing for the northern front, travelling light and fast. Large armies are stationed within easy march of Addis Ababa. A Rome message says that an official communique states that Italian irregulars occupied Callafo on the Somaliland front, a most important centre in the Sciavelli region. Numerous tribal chieftains submitted. The Addis Ababa correspondent of the Times reports that Italian aeroplanes are reported to have bombarded Gabridihari, a hill position 20 miles northwest of Gorahai and built in the same style— a circle of mud huts, rendering target practice difficult.