FALSE CLAIMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 25 November 1935, Page 7

FALSE CLAIMS

ITALIAN ADVANCE THE LINE IN OGADEN STATEMENT EY SELASSIE LULL ON ALL BATTLE FRONTS. |Cj Telegraph—Frees Association—Cop/rlrtt, LONDON, Nov. 22. lhe Italians have never achieved the advances they claim towards the south," declared the Emperor in a Wiitten statement of_hi s aerial to«r given to the British United Press agency’s correspondent. Actually they are still near the Wahval-Gora-tai-Gerlogubi line occupied a month ago. The Abyssinians are still to the south of Sasa Baneh, which the Italians falsely claimed they had captured. 'J he operations in the Ogaden have demonstrated that the Abyssinians are capable of resisting modernised troops and even defeating them. The courage of the Ethiopians compensates for their lack of equipment. They would unquestionably have preferred to throw themselves upon the enemy, but they understand the necessity of dominating cur strategic positions. Bombing from the air has not had the least effect on the morale of the troops or tire inhabitants. The effects of bombing are very meagre. For example, hundreds of bombs have been dropped cn Gorahai, yet our losses have been only 17 killed or seriously wounded.” The Emperor explained that the purpo.*e of his flight was not to encourage the troops—that was unnecessary—but to learn the needs and see for himself the actual military situation. Heavy Rain in Ogaden. The lull on all battle fronts is more pronounced in Ogaden, whence the latest messages report that heavy rain has rendered unmade tracks impassable. The Daily Mail’s special correspondent at Gargeisa says that the Emperors visit is stated to coincide with an elaborate plan to attempt to encircle the Italians on the outskirts of Sasa Baneh. It is reported that Ras Desta’s men have cut the road from Mogadishu, from which. important Italian supplies are now undeliverable. A belated Addis Ababa communique reporting a successful Abyssinian night attack between Makale and Hauzien probably refers to the engagement cabled on November 20, and adds that 300 Italians, 200 rifles, and three machine-guns were captured. RECEIVED WITH RESERVE Received Nc-v. 24, 6.45 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 24. It is officially claimed that the whole of Ogaden has submitted, but the statement is received with some reserve in the face of recent proofs. Dagabur and Sasa Baneh have not been occupied by the Italians who, however, admittedly dominate a huge area of the province. A communique says: **Submission has been made spontaneously by chiefs desiring to participate in Italy’s campaign. of liberation. A later communique modifies the Ogaden claim, limiting the domination to the central an<l southern areas where the chiefs in the districts of Rerdalal, Makahil, Kerelmi, and Secal submitted. It adds: “Abdel Krim on November 11 reorganised his tribe and surrendered with a thousand rifles. ,, DEATH FROM WOUND COUNT CIANO’S gunner LONDON, Nov. 21. The Rome correspondent of the Times says that Sergeant Birago, Count Ciano’s machine-gunner, who was wounded during an Italian air raid on an Abyssinian encampment, died after the amputation of a leg, which is reported to have been severely torn by a dum-dum bullet. General de Bono posthumously awarded him the gold medal of valour, which is equivalent to the Victoria Cross.