TO STOP THRUST

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 5

TO STOP THRUST

ABYSSINIANS ACTIVE DEFENCES IN THE SOUTH ISOLATED ENGAGEMENTS ITALIAN PLANE CRASHES COPT CHURCHES FOUND By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Nov. 6. An Italian air reconnaissance discloses intense Abyssinian activity in the Shibeli Valley, 30 miles north-east of Walwal, where Ras Nassibou is building strong defences to impede the Italian thrust. The Emperor Haile Selassie has promoted a Mohammedan general, Omar Samater, to be a leader of the Abyssinians after a fierce conflict at Scillave, in which his men killed several Italians and suffered 40 casualties. Samater deserted from the Italian army in Somaliland after killing an officer, and formed his own Somali army. The Exchange’s Asmara correspondent says that the vanguard of the Italian Askaris south-west of Hauzien went to the mouth of a cavern in which 200 Abyssinians had taken refuge and demanded their surrender. The Abyssinians rushed forth and hurled themselves on the Italians in a savage hand-to-hand struggle. Two Italian officers, two noncommissioned officers and two Askaris were killed. The Abyssinians lost heavily. The Daily Telegraph’s Addis Ababa correspondent says that the. Emperor Haile Selassie will take Father Gabreab to Dessie as his personal confessor, also the two famous Arks of the Covenant, one of St. George, reputedly the organiser of the victory at Adowa in 1896, and the other of St. Gabriel, who gave Haile Selassie the victory against Ras Michael, father of the rebel Lij Eyassu, in 1916. ST. GEORGE ON WHITE HORSE. Abyssinian warriors assert that they saw St. George riding-a white horse at Adowa and leading Menelik’s hosts to conquest, thus repeating the Roman legend of Castor and Pollux at the Battle of Lake Regillus. They declare that St. George and St. Gabriel are more than a match for Signor Mussolini. ■ The Times’ Rome correspondent says that General Biroli’s native troops encountered in the Asllo Valley, due north of Makale, a remarkable collection of Copt churches of some architectural merit and excavated from hard rock. The resident priests received the troops with full liturgical ceremony, carrying crosses and many coloured umbrellas, but they somewhat detracted from the dignity of the occasion by wearing women’s garments propitiatorily given them by the troops. The sight of 100 venerable blackbearded hermits draped in gaudy petticoats and gay bodices solemnly chanting Psalms sent the soldiers into shrieks of laughter. The only news from the Ogaden front is from Dedjazmatch Afework’s wireless reports from Gorahai. He states that only seven Abyssinians were wounded in an. Italian attack on November 2. The survivors of the capture of Takerekatama have been reorganised into new units. The officer commanding the western Ogaden front has recommended several chiefs for decorations for bravery. He adds that the Italians strongly attacked with tanks and planes. The garrison resisted to the last round. A Somali chieftain did ferocious execution with his sword and ordered his followers to retreat when their ammunition was exhausted, which was methodically executed. All four occupants of one Italian aeroplane shot down were immediately killed. The crew of another aeroplane charged with bombs were blown to pieces upon striking the ground and many of the garrison were injured in the explosion.