The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-11-02
MAKALE'S FALL
IS EXPECTED
At EARLY HOUR
Italian Morale High as DC.
cupation by Northern
Army Seems Near
By WEBB MILLER
Cartwright 1885 by United Press

WITH THE ITALIAN NORTH
ERN ARMIES, via Asmara, Nov.
I2-UP).-Long columns of mo-
tor trucks began moving up to the
front last night in a tense atmos-
Dhere reminiscent of that month
ago Just before the armies of Gen.
Emilio de Bono crossed the March
river into Ethiopia.
Curtains of dust hung high over
the network of military roads
leading back from the Adigrat-
Aduwa-Aksum line to the supply
bases in Eritrea.
With occupation Of the impor-
tant Ethiopian caravan center of
Makale expected rlomentarily, the
troops are singing the Italian
Equivalent of the American World
war song, "Where Do We Go
From Here"
The troops are rested after their
strenuous efforts earlier in the
month to consolidate the fortifi-
cation of the block of occupied
territory. Their morale is high.
Bronzed by exposure to the
tropical suns, they are restless for
further progress.
Word of Makale's capture is ex-
pected shortly from the Black
shirts and Askaris who have been
a circle around it for
more than "a hours.
There is a lull along the Aksum-
Acknowledged front generally,
there are indications it is the lull
that precedes renewed activity.
One had the same feeling month
ago when the triple columns under
General Emilio de Bono were get
ting set for their big push into
from the east bank OF
the River March.
Now, as then, aerial activity is
intense. Authorities deny they
are bombarding Ethiopian towns,
hence their purpose must be rec.
The big bombers of
Capt. Galeazzo Ciano's "desper-
ate squadron" and the smaller
pursuit and "ground strafing"
ships roar over our heads at fire.
luent intervals.
All along the front, which now
is fortified from one to the other
and laced with a network of mill
tary roads, there is a feeling of
which correspondents de-
tect in the conversation of Off
GERS and men. 1t is apparent that
the fall of Makale will be merely
the prelude to a determined drive
southwark over a much wider
front.
Long professions of trucks are
supplies up to the front
Just as they were two days before
the first advance toward Aduwa.
Sweating workers labor to keep
the Dads passable as the ponder
Gus Lorries roar through their
pulverized rock surfaces raising
dense, choking clouds of dust.
Once the Italians are entrench-
ed at Makale they are in position
of immense Importance. The town
lies on the direct route to Adds
Ababa and is only so miles from
The beginning of the broad truck
highway leading $50 miles to the
capital.
Ferdinany Bietry. a Swiss engi-
neer who built this road for En-
oeror Halle Selassie, told this cor
respondent at Aduwa that it eX-
lends to Adds Ababa from ~
niles north of Lake Ashanghi and
s broad enough to carry three
anes of trucks or scooter tanks
The road is made of baked soil
and can accommodate fast truck
traffic, Bietry said. /
Once the Italians reach the head
IF this road an entirely new phase
If mechanical warfare may de-
relon with the use of midget
tanks, armpit high and CARRYING
Two machine guns, dashing deep
INTO the heart of enemy territory
70 demoralize the defenders of
The Philippians may dig elephant
trans for these tanks but previous
Efforts to trap the mechanical
monsters of the Italians have fail
pd because their camouflage has
heen ineffective. The alert driv-
nrs have spotted the traps and de-