ADVANCE SOUTHWARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 9

ADVANCE SOUTHWARD

ITALIAN OPERATIONS DRIVE TOWARDS HARRAR TASK AHEAD OF INVADERS [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! Received Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. ROME, Ecu. 21. A communique announces that the First Army Corps has resumed the advance southward. The air force has not given the enemy respite. Marshal Badoglio’s objective is now Ekbaalaii, a natural fortress Jl/100 feet, high barring access to the motor road to Addis Ababa which, however, is 250 miles distant in a straight line. Marshal Badoglio is extending his operations literally, and has occupied Amba Damascal and Mount Bimba north of Gaela controlling the road from Tembicn southward and further threatening the retreat of Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum. He is also report ;.1 to have reached Anseba, 17 miles cast of Scelicot, and thus has occupied the mountain range marking the bounda-y of the great Abyssinian platen dominating the Danakil plain. Three hundred ’planes arc harassing the Abyssinians as a preliminary tu the drive toward Harrar and Jijiga. The Daily Mail’s Asmara curiesp indent reports .that air photographs show that Ras Mulugeta’s troop are struggling southward and many ha\ ■■ thrown down their arms, Th? « o’uj jls. apparently, arc disintegrating. TYPHUS IN ETHIOPIAN ARMY A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD In yesterday's cables prominence was given to the report of two .Boles, Dr. Maxmillian Belan and his assistant, who wore attached to a medical unit with Ras Mulugeta’s defeated army, that disease is rife among the Abyssinians. Measles, smallpox, typhus, dysentery and leprosy were mentioned. It is well known that all these diseases afflict the people of Abyssinia, states the Wellington Evening Post, and the Emperor cherished the purpose of establishing a national medical service throughout Ethiopia,'.to fight these scourges. Already, at his own expense, he has built ami equipped a hospital at Addis Ababa under Swedish auspices. Ono of his projects is the establishing of an Ethiopian University, the site of which has been already cho< m. Attached to .this will be a medical school for the training of Ethiopian physicians and surgeons. John M. Molly, F.R.C.S., in the course of an address given at Chatham House, London, before members of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, last November, threw much light on this phase of the Italo-Abyssidian War. A Deciding Factor “The question of disease,” he said, “is probably more important than any other as a deciding factor in this war, and it is on that account that 1. quite convinced that the war will rot go on after the next rainy season. .1 think .that if Mussolini tries to keep his 'men out there through the next rains their losses from disease will be tremendous, and consequently their morale will be so low that they will not be in a position to attack again next October. Consequently. I expect the Italians to do all they tan between now and next May, and tnen. to demand terms.” Dr. Molly has first-hand knowledge of Abyssinia, having gone to that country on a medical mission at the in’’ilation of the Emperor. Since His address at Chai hum House he has returned to Abyssinia, and is now attached to a British Red Cross, unit. Tn reply to a question following his address, Dr. Molly explained the grounds of his fears for the Italian Army becoming infected with typhus. This dread disease is common throughout Abyssinia. More deaths are caused through typhus than from any other single cause. Of people over -15 who become infected very few recover; and in the case of the young and healthy. 40 per cent, of those affected die. There is no efficient inoculation which gives immunity. The Italian medical staff ?s doubtless aware of this peril. This is the reason they have given a wide berth to Abyssinian dwellings in rhe conquered territory, and keep t heirmen under canvas. The disease is conveyed by a body louse; and the mud and thatch huts of the. natives are \ erminous. But will these .troops be able to live under canvas through the great rains, when floods descend like “to drev.n the world” for three months on end? Mussolini has declared that sue..’' is his intention for the forces. By so uoing they may escape the dreaded typhus, but fall victims tQ other forms of disease. Many besides this British surgee;; hold the view that in spite of the splendidlv-cquipped and competent Italian medical service, Italian troops will suffer greater casualties from Abyssinian disease than from the Emperor’s warriors.