LURING INVADERS ON

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 5

LURING INVADERS ON

RETREAT OF ABYSSINIAN ARMIES FIRST ITALIANS REACH MAKALE EXPULSION OF ADVANCE PARTY By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Asmara, November 6. THE Italian First Army Corps has captured Agula and occupied the adjacent villages of Endama and Riamdha. The Second Army Corps is consolidating its share of the mountain position, completing the occupation of Abi Addi, 20 miles east of Makale, preparatory to the main advance on Makale at dawn tomorrow. No organised opposition is expected to meet this second stage of Italy’s big push, despite rumours that the Abyssinians are manning pillbox defences hastily erected under the guidance of Colonel Kornavaloff, Ras Seyoum’s Russian military adviser. The Government’s spokesman at Addis Ababa, however, declares that the northern army commanders are strictly obeying the Emperor Haile Selassie’s orders to retire slowly, luring the enemy on. Reports from Rome and Addis Ababa state that a small advance party of Italians reached Makale last night. Addis Ababa reports, however, claim that they were expelled during the night, ten being killed. The Abyssinians also claim that they brought down two planes on the southern front.