REPORTED CLASH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 305, 30 December 1935, Page 5

REPORTED CLASH

LIBYAN FRONTIER POST EVACUATED ITALY ON THE MOVE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright| LONDON, Dec. 28. The Sun-Herald agency says that the situation in Libya is not improving. It is reported that Signor Mussolini has ordered a crack mechanised Trento division of 18,000 men to prepare to cross the Mediterranean to the Egyptain-Libyan border. An Italian steamer secretly left Leghorn last week, ostensibly for Italian Somaliland, but she carried guns and mechanised vehicles for Tripoli and the Italiamborder. These movements are interpreted as Italy’s first- precautionary measures following the breakdown of the lloare-Laval Plan. Meanwhile, as a result of the reported clash between Italian and Egyptian troops on the Libyan frontier, the British Egyptian authorities have decided to evacuate the frontier post at Solium to avoid the possibility of provocative hostile incidents. The British forces will henceforth be based at Mersa Matruk, 120 miles from the Italian-Cyre-naican frontier. AMBASSADOR TO ROME DEPARTUBE FOR HOLIDAY. Received Dec. 29, 6.10 p.m, LONDON, Dec. 29. The Rome correspondent of the Times says that Sir Eric Drummond’s departure to-day for a three weeks’ holiday in England is regarded as a definite indication that r.o new developments are expected in the immediate future. The same view is also held in well-in-formed Italian quarters, where it is stated that no important political events are likely to occur before the middle of January. AN ABYSSINIAN CIAIM AIDDIS ABABA, Dee. 27. The Government announces that troops under Dedjasmateh Hailu yesterday drove Italian outposts from positions in the Tembien region, near Makale, and captured 11 machine-guns and a quantity of rifles and ammunition. HEAVY LOSSES ITALIAN SUCCESS. B A DOGLIO ’S REPORT 1 . ROME, CDec. 27. A communique from Marshal Badoglio announces the defeat of parties of Abyssinians in the Takazze sector, with heavy losses. Six Italians and three Eritreans were killed.