STORIES IN CONFLICT.

Wairarapa Age, 25 January 1936, Page 5

STORIES IN CONFLICT.

FIGHTING ON ABYSSINIAN NORTHERN FRONT. | VICTORY CLAIMED BY BOTH SIDES. ENCIRCLEMENT OF MAKALE ALLEGED. LONDON, January 23. There are conflicting accounts of Italy’s new offensive in Teheran. A dispatch from Rome claims that all the first day’s objectives were achieved, but Addis Ababa claims a victory for Ras Seyoum’s forces, with heavy Italian losses and a complete encirclement of Makale. » TEMBIEN BATTLE. ETHIOPIANS CLAIM SUCCESS IN COUNTER-ATTACK. POSITION ON THE SOUTHERN FRONT. LONDON, January 23. A “Times” copyright message from Addis Ababa still reports the Abyssinian claim of a successful counter-attack after the initial Italian attack in Tembien. A communique declares that the battle opened near Makale on January 20. The Ethiopians, after intense hand-to-hand lighting, occupied many important Italian positions and captured large quantities of arms, ammunition, provisions, and several guns, and killed thousands of Italians. The communique expresses satisfaction that Ras Desta has fallen back from Negelli, which was a dangerously advanced position, rendering supply difficult. Although it is admitted that his retirement in Sidamo opens a gap permitting the Italians to clear a passage up the Ganale Dorya and Webbe Shibeli Rivers to Mogalo and Ginir, which the Abyssinians are now reinforcing, Ras Desta denies reverses, and says that he has retired to the mountains to avoid the Italian tanks. “The Times” Rome correspondents report that Negelli has been captured, a combined attack by cavalry, whippet tanks, armoured cars, and mechanised arms attacking frontally, while horsemen deployed on the flanks and brilliantly charged with the lance. General Graziani followed up the advance so quickly that he entered Negelli two hours after its capture.