The Washington times., 1935-11-19
IL DUCE'S SONS
UNDER FIRE
+. IN ATTACK
Romans Launch Big
Offensive Along the
Northern Front
CONTINUED from Page u

StO" -
tack led by Premier Mussolini's
''flying family" an Ethiopian
column Of warriors advanced to-
day toward Scelicot with the in
tention of attacking Italian forces
along the Dolo-Makale front, &C
cording to italian sources.
The Ethiopian advance followed
by cnly a few hours a bitter en-
gagement, termed the most serious
of the war thus far, in which
Count Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini's
son.in-law, and II Duce'S two sons,
Bruno and Vittorio, led 20 bomb
ing planes against a huge concen-
tration of Ethiopian warriors. who
were routed in disorder with many
casualties. .,
Count Ciano estimated prob
ably 1000" Ethiopians were slain
in the bitter battle, while head
quarters announced three mem
bers of Count Ciano's La Des-
perata" squadron were wounded
The battle occurred near Bula.
on the road south Of Makale,
where $4,000 Ethiopians were To-
Gated by the Italian planes.
The conflict was without a
doubt the fiercest aerial slaughter
yet carried out by the Italians.
Lands At Makale
The Ethiopians fought back for
two hours before being dispersed
after suffering heavy losses at
Mai Mescid Valley. south Of Buia.
Count Ciano continued fighting
until the end of the engagement,
although one engine of his plane
was disabled by an explosive shell.
He finally made an emergency
landing at Makale, Repaired his
plane, and returned to Asmara.
MuSSolini's sons, after dropping
all their bombs and nearly ex-
hausting their planes of fuel and
ammunition, continued the battle
by firing rifles from their planes
at the EthiopianS. All their planes
were pierced by enemy bullets,
and one italian sergeant was Seri.
ously wounded.
The valley is so precipitous and
the planes flew so low that the
Ethiopian bullets were shot at
them from below, from the sides
and from above.
Three Italian planes were forced
down, but all managed to land
within the Italian lines.
CippOlini q Hero
One of the heroes of the en-.
counter was Mechanic Cipploni,
who accompanied Lieutenant
Memelli. When the gas tank Of
their plane was pierced by bullets
and the fuel began to run out,
Cippolonia placed his finger over
the ripped tank and kept it there
. for two hours while Memeli con.
tinued bombing and machine-gun-
ming the Ethiopians. &c..
A pilot who participated In the
expedition declared the bombs
alooSed by the Italians were each
OF two Kilograms, and that they
completely dispersed the concen-
trated forces Of EthiopianS.
He said the bullets which
stopped Count Ciano'S plane
pierced the oil tank, forcing him
to land at Makale for repairs with
two Of the planes three motors
running. .>
Red and green tents designat'
ing the rank nf the Ethi0pian
chieftains provided a target for
the aviatorS. who flew so low that
machine gun and rifle bullets
easily reached their planes.
All Along the Line
It is believed here the Ethi-
opianS hope to disrupt the Italian
front positions by surprise at
tack intending to cut off the
expected Italian advance from
Makale to Amba Alagi.
Italian air scouts, however, dis
covered the Ethiopians were
massing and the swift attack Of
the bombers was ordered imme'
diately.
In the opinion Of military Of.
ficals, this has probably thrown
a crimp into all the ethiopian
plans.
Some of the aviators estimated
the Ethiopian concentration at
$4,000 or 10000 troops.
The air attack, which covered
the entire Amba Alagi region,
lasted six hour, causing destruc-
ton and panic in the ranks Of the
massed EthiopianS. Shippers and
guerilla warriors concealed in
high grass and shrubhery also
were forced to flee.