The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-21
TlUo ItaLian Armies
 ReadyFor Big Fight
tcontinued frorn Page ID

 /. Thcre Is no activity on the from tier ct present, so far as fighting or Advancing.
 Area Is Extended
 The army is on the Aksum-A Adu- a-Entiscio- Adigrat line from west to east. Within the last few days the area of ocupation has been extended out southwardl from the line for strategic reasons, giving the posi- tions of the soldiers great strength. Reconnaissance flights of airplanes have revealed only a few scattered assemblages of Ethiopian troops in the Bircutan-T Tembien-makale re- gions extending 50 miles southward. Oficials believe the total Ethio- pian strength before them may reach from 30000 to 4o,000 men. However, they say, the Ethsopians may be able to muster 100000 men in all on the whole northern front from the Sudan to the Red sea.
 Actually the. Italian northern army is occupying front of only about 37 miles from cast to west. It has met with almost no resistance since the campaign started October 10.
 The principal activity at the mo- ment is the continuous consolidation of the position-advancing supplies for the next stage, extending and widening roads.
 Close to Precipices
 Even with the roads improved from transport of supplies it is far from plain sailing. For example the road from Eritrea to Adigrat has 1,5O0-odd sharp curves, many of them on the edge of precipices.
 Along the roads can be seen wrecks of motor trucks which plunged down sometimes hundreds of feet when their dog-tired drivers faltered o rmistook turnings in dark ness.
 There are increasing indications that the Philippians are concentrat- ing for a strong resistance in the Tembien region about 50 miles south of the Aduwa sector.
 Though few concentrations have been seen, airplanes have observed nevertheless a steady northward movement of isolated groups.
 They report that troops are mov- ing northward all over the southern country from as far as Addis Aba ba.
 Airplanes have bombed and dis persed groups not only on the im- mediate front but eastward toward the Red Sea and westward toward the Sudan border.
 First Step To Open Way
 From the military viewpoint the prospective action southward to. ward Makale is the most interesting and most important because it is the first step toward opening the way for the most vital passablt road in Ethiopia, which extends fol about 250 miles right into Addis Aheba.
 Ironically this road was con- gtructed by Emperor Halle Selassit and Italians believe it will be ont of the most important factors 1T hlg downfall.
 It was still under construction until the Italian campaign started and had reached as far north al Maicio dozetn miles north of Lake Ashangi and 8 little more than 1Ot miles south of the present Italian line.
 Some Europeans have traverset the road and say that it is read ily passable to motor trucks or good speed. It is 30 feet wide, mos of the way-wide enough for three lines of trafic. It is of baked soi and one of the few roads useablt by motor traffic in the whole coun' try. Much money was spent on 1t and Italians believe it will fall like a plum into their hands.
 Midget Tanks Important
 The role of fast midget tanks breast high, each with two men ane a. machine gun is destined to bt important.
 First they are to be used in con- siderable numbers in the noun tainous, roadless country imme diately ahead, where even mule have difficulty.
 They will be used for diSpersa of small concentrations and the. will be even more useful when onc' the Italians reach the 30 foot roat which commences north of Lax Ashangi.
 The army is going into one of tn most colorful of countries.
 At Aksum Saturday l saw tn meeting of the old and new. Flo more than a score of centuries o existence, Ethiopia's Holy City 1 seeking its first wheeled traffic Il the streets.
 Hundreds of children, and grave dignified priests, gathered to star and chatter as they watched ar planes open mouthed.
 Italian political officers sum moned heads of families and chief and announced new civil admin istration, in which the town Woul be divided into precincts.
 Aksum lies in fertile valley, tn richest territory yet entered. It a town of 4,000 people, of Motle circular conical thatched hut grouped in compounds surrounde by walls, each inhabited by tn head of a family, his son, daugh ters and relations.
 Cathedral Is Principal
 The principal building is the Cop tic Christian Cathedral, a low ston building with broad flights of step and courtyards. The inner court yard is forbidden to women, whil men must remove their shoes whel they enter it.
 Under the eucalyptus trees group of the grave, white haired priest are praying. Outside the walls ar groups of pilgrims, come from hun dreds of miles afoot, suffering iron leprosy, or with ghastly sores o diseases of disfigurement, hopint for miracle to cure them.
 Some erect few sticks to serv as shelter, to live or die there.
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