HEAVY LOSS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1935, Page 7

HEAVY LOSS

GUERILLA WAR ADVANCE BY ITALIANS HARASSING OF FLANKS HAND-TO-HAND CONFLICT DETERMINED RESISTANCE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Nov. 14. An official communique from Rome says that following the occupation of Gheralta in Ogaden an Italian native army heavily defeated the enemy. Colonel Maletti’s Somaliland column .defeated in the Upper Fafan Valley a reinforced enemy who left 300 dead on the field, also numerous machine-guns and rifles. The Italian casualties were 17 killed and 63 wounded.

A message from Makale says that the Abyssinians ambushed a working patrol under Major Delmonte between Antalo and Scelicot, south-east of Makale, and shot dead Major Delmonte. A lieutenant rushed from the rear, rallied his troops though outnumbered two to one, divided his force under the cover of machine-gun fire, outflanked the assailants and charged into a hand-to-hand conflict in which the Abyssinians were routed. The Italians secured a few prisoners, 30 rifles and a quantity of ammunition.

Abyssinian guerillas claim to have overwhelmed an Italian supply train in a steep pass behind the lines north of Makale. They captured mules and rifles and there were only three Italian survivors. The Italian report that they repulsed an enemy attempt to cut the Italian communications south-west of Hauzien. Cavalry drove the ambushed enemy from a maize field. CHANGED METHODS. The Daily Telegraph’s Tigrean correspondent at Dolo says that the character of the operations will probably alter henceforth, as th? Abyssinian concentrations definitely are massing around Amba Alagi, 37 miles from the Italian front. In view of the determined resistance the invaders may employ flying columns of Askaris in conjunction with tanks, instead of more ponderous movements hitherto undertaken, necessitating heavy supply services. The Rome correspondent of the Times says that the Gheralta region is admittedly still infested with groups of armed Abyssinians harassing the Italian flanks, necessitating combing out by native troops, resulting in many minor encounters.

The Abyssinians hide themselves in holes three feet deep and snipe at the advancing Askaris. It is in this way that Major Delmonte was killed, after his troops had covered 20 miles without seeing a soul. The lengthening of the lines of communication has compelled the northern Italian army to remove its supply bases nearer the front line. -

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

“SANCTIONIST” NATIONS YUGOSLAVIAN DESIRES London, Nov. 14. In connection with the recommendation of the League co-ordination committee regarding mutual assistance between League States engaged in fulfilling their obligations under Article 16 of the Covenant, the Government of Yugoslavia has proposed to the British Government a discussion between the experts of the two Governments on possible trading adjustments whicfi might help Yugoslavia in reducing the losses involved in the imposition of economic sanctions against Italy. Delegates from the Yugoslavian Ministry of Commerce arrived at London to-day and conversations with officials of the Board of Trade will be begun next week. The principal commodities for which it is understood the Yugoslavian Government is looking for an increased outlet are pigs and poultry, particularly turkeys and eggs. An Addis Ababa message says that the Emperor Haile Selassie blessed the Sudan Mission’s ambulance which left for Sidamo under a Canadian, Dr. Hooper, assisted by two New Zealanders, Messrs. A, C. Smith and A, G. Roke.