WAR IN ABYSSINIA

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 January 1936, Page 5

WAR IN ABYSSINIA

A Protracted Conflict

Italians Claim Success

LONDON, Monday.

A Dessie message says that General Graziani’s aircraft, operating on the southern border of Abyssinia, proved the deciding factor in a 24-hour conflict on Ist January between Askaris and several thousand of Ras Desta’s troops in the Areri region, between Lake Huku and the Ganale Doria River, 20 miles north of Dolo. Marshal Badoglio claims the destruction of the Abyssinian camp, 150 of the defenders being killed, including the chieftain, and 100 wounded, including 40 prisoners, with the loss of one Italian and four Askaris killed, and 15 Askaris wounded. The Askaris launched the attack, firing volleys from machine guns and rifles from 20 armoured cars. The Abyssinians were protected by a double line of trenches, and fought desperately all day to prevent their encirclement. Skirmishes continued throughout the night, developing into bloody hand-to-hand encounters. Daybreak showed the Italians to be almost surrounding the Abysinian position. Aeroplanes then swooped down and bombed the Abyssinians, whose disordered ranks were finally scattered by Askaris charging behind whippet tanks. A burst of fire immobilised an armoured car, but the crew held out, firing at the surrounding Abyssinians until an Askari charge rescued them. The victors pursued the fugitives and captured Amino, a village in the Malkagoto district. This is the first action in the southern area in which an Italian life was lost. In the northern area, Marshal Badoglio, while admitting that two Italians and two Askaris were killed and four wounded, claims success in patrol skirmishes. He does not state the Abyssinian losses.

DEMAND FOR ENQUIRY. NOT OPPOSED BY ITALY. ROME, Monday. Official: Italy, asserting that she has nothing to hide, will not oppose the Abyssinian demand for a committee enquiry into proceedings on the war front. ’ “ITALY DONE FOR.” A FRENCH OPINION. (Received Wednesday, 10.25 a.m.) . PARIS, Tuesday. “Italy is done for,” declares ‘‘L’Oeuvre,” commenting on the bombing of the Swedish Red Cross unit, and adds: "Italy’s case is so severely compromised, morally and materially, that even the most friendly members of the French Cabinet must realise that she is finished.”

ANGLO-FRENCH CO-OPERATION. IN EVENT OF WAR. (Received Wednesday, 10.25 a.m.) PARIS, Tuesday. - The Paris edition of the New York “Herald-Tribune” declares that the final details of Anglo-French co-opera-tion in the event of war have been completed. The scheme implements mutual assistance obligations, under the Covenant, of the League of Nations, and provides for the immediate mobilisation of the air forces, navies and armies of both countries. Britain will have the free use of French aerodromes, naval bases, dockyards and arsenals. Britain, in return, undertakes to con : tribute her share of naval protection of the French coast and aerial protection of French industrial centres. Britain also agrees to move motorised troops behind the French lines on the Italian frontier, if necessary. Britain

FURTHER ITALIAN OUTRAGE. CONFIRMED BY ERITISH OFFICIAL. RUGBY, Monday. Confirmation has been received in London from Sir Sydney Barton, British Minister in Addis Ababa, of reports in circulation over the week-end that another ambulance unit in Abyssinia had been bombed by Italian aircraft. The unit attacked was the Ethiopian Red Cross Ambulance No. 1, situated at Daggarhbur, which is staffed by Egyptian and British personnel. The unit was bombed and machine-gunned by Italian aeroplanes on Saturday. It appears that there were no casualties among the foreign staff. During the previous bombardments of Daggarhbur, immunity of the Red Cross unit, which was at seme distance from the town, was respected. A member of the staff of the British Legation is being sent to the spot to report on all the circumstances.

and France thus are prepared for an Italian attack against Britain in the Mediterranean, or against France from the direction of the Alps.

ITALIAN OIL SUPPLIES. . QUANTITIES FROM ALBANIA. (Received Wednesdav. 10.25 a.m.) ROME, Tuesday. A Royal decree authorises the construction of an oil refinery, costing £l,166,000, and controlled as a State monopoly, for an Albanian petrol pipe line, 46 miles long, with a pumping capacity of one thousand tons daily, connecting the Kucova oil wells, near Beret, with Valona. This will be inaugurated with a shipment of 4152 tons of crude oil bv the tanker Mava.

The yield from the well is estimated at ten million tons, and Albania’s inccmo from it £41,666 yearly.