Evening star., 1935-10-06

Of Aduwa were contradictory. The
Ethiopian capital Adds Ababa, heard
unofficially Aduwa had been occupied
by the Italians, who found only wom-
en-, children and few old men
there.
Rome Expecting Capture Soon.
Rome, on the other hand, said
Aduwa had not been taken, but that
occupation was expected before many
hours. The Rome report indicated
Aduwa was in q state of siege.
Whatever the actual status of the
city may be, it was indicated that
force of about 100000 tribal war
riors was in the vicinity under the
direction Of Ras Seyoum. with an
other 100000 Ethiopians moving to his
reinforcement from farther inland.
Of Ras Seyoum, with another 100 900
Ethiopians moving to his REINFORCE
ment from farther inland.
Military observers suggested that
quiet retirement from Aduwa was not
unlikely, with Ras Seyoum planning to
make a stand against the Italians at
some other place better suited to the
individual style Of fighting favored by
the black warriors Of Halle Selassie.
There was conflict, too, in the days
reports concerning little Adigrat, the
village not many miles east of Aduwa.
Adigrat Capture Reported.
Italy reported the capture OF Adj
graf Friday, and Adds Ababa an
nounced the village was recaptured
yesterday. Rome information did not
confirm this, however.
The latest news from Adds Ababa
last night recited that there was fierce
hand-to-hand fighting on a 22-mile
front, stretching approximately from
Askum "a few miles west of Aduwa)
to Adigrat; that Ethiopian women
were serving as water boys to their
f1ghting warriors, and carrying to
them also jugs of the strong liquor
so favored by the fighting men, and
that the Italian advance had been
checked. at least temporarily.
The police measures" as Italy has
described its present activity in
Ethiopia, were extended even beyond
Adigrat to the East. for last reports
said fierce fighting was continuing in
the Danakil Desert area, abutting
Eritrea.
Planes were active, but not on any
large scale. The air maneuvering so
far has been confined to bombing
forays, such as the one that signaled
the start of hostilities against Aduwa,
and another Saturday upon Makale,
about so miles in land from the Adj
graf fighting zone.
Casualty Figures Incomplete.
Casualty figures still are incom-
plete and vague. One source, consid-
cred reliable, said the number killed
in the Aduwa bombing was g.
Casualties in the Danakil fighting
have been placed at TOO Italians dead
and 1900 Ethiopians. There are as
yet no figures concerning the Adigrat
casualties.
One report that 1000 Ethiopians
have been killed at Harar is believed
to be in error. Harar is on the gen.
eral route Of an advance from Walwal
to the railroad, but is more than 200
miles away from the present position
of Mussolini's southern army.
Emperor Selassie said at Adds
Ababa that he doubted If more than
200 men on both sides had been killed
in all the fighting thus far along the
Italian Somaliland front. Other re-
ports have estimated casualty list of
many thousands.
The General Military Situation.
There are two definite movements
by italian forces against Ethiopia
one on the north. which is based at
Asmara and Assab in Eritrea, and the
other. involving considerably smaller
force, apparently. on the South, mov-
ing northward from Italian Somali-
land
Both military movements are
pointed in the general direction of the
heart Of the empire The force on
the southern front appears to be in
a better position to break the rail-
road line. probably by air lombard
ment.
The greatest concentration of EN-
peror Selassies soldiers Is either on
the northern sector or in areas con-
venient to that sector.
Aussa Region Is Goal.
The Mussa Ali drive is pointed to-
ward the rich and desirable Aussa
region.
The Aduwa movement may be partly
sentimental-the avenging of the Ital-
ian massacre of l896-and it may ul-
timately contemplate deep penetration
to the capital.
The forces about Aduwa, II sue
cessful in routing opposition, would
also be in position to move into the
Lake Tana district-the British in