Evening star., 1935-11-19
$4,000 Routed From Valley
South of MakaIe With
Bombs and Machine Guns.
SeIassie Leaves by Air.
VITTORIO AND BRUNO
UNSCATHED IN FIGHT
Defenders Reply With Anti-Air-
craft and Rifle Fire and Ships
swoop to Within 100 Feet of
Ground-Mussolini's Sons Cited
for Valor in Communique.

Copyright. 1885 by the Associated Pressl
ASMARA, Eritrea, November ia
squadron of Italian bombers killed
about 1000 Ethiopians, Fascist official
reports said today, in strange pitched
battle between air and land forces on
the northern front
The native warriors replied to the
bombs and machine-gun fire from the
desperate" squadron of Count Ga
leazZo Ciano, son-in-law Of Premier
Mussolini, with anti-aircraft gun and
rifle fire which forced down Cianos
and another plane
Count Ciano emerged unscathed
from the battle just south of Makale
yesterday, as did II Duce's two soldier
sons, Vittorio and Bruno, but one
Italian mechanic was wounded critic
ally
Reports from Adds Ababa stated
that Emperor Halle Selassie had left
his capital today by plane for an un-
announced destination. 1t was be-
lieved he had gone to join his troops
at the front.
Double Attack on Camp.
The 20-plane squadron made dou-
BILE attack on great encampment of
about $4,000 Ethiopians secuted out
ahead of the italian front lines at
Makale, official reports said, and dis
persed the entire force.
The operation was described by
Italian authorities as the most impor-
tant aerial encounter since the Great
War
Hundreds of the enemy lay dead in
the conflict, the italian officials said.
Describing the original attack on
the Ethiopian camp. Count Ciano
himself said: I'VE saw the Ethiopians
scatter fast, but We got hundreds of
them before they could take shelter,
probably we got more than 1000 Of
them"
The count, his oil tank pierced by
an Ethiopian bullet. turned back to
Makale after giving the signal for the
second assault, and official reports
said the total of enemy dead in the
two-hour conflict was around 1000.
Official reports said every Fascist
plane scored an average of dozen
hits.
The bomberS were constantly under
severe rifle and anti-aircraft shell fire,
it was reported.
Brunos plane was hit seven times
and Vittorio's nine.
After the battle, official reports said
scouting planes found hundreds of
Ethiopians dead in the valley of
combat.
The entire enemy force had scat
tered in the surrounding woods.
Their camp, officials said, was broken
up completely.
The engagement was considered
extraordinary by military experts as
kind of pitched battle between air
and lind forces.
Sergt. Birago, one of the heroes Of
the battle. officials announced, will be
proposed for medal of valor.
Held Finger in Tank Hole.
Count Ciano, after the return Of
the aerial squadron, asserted:
Baron OStlnl, pllotlng the NO. D
plane, returned to Asmara with his
mechanic suffering from a fractured
leg
The mechanic, however, scribbled
notes on bloody cards such as, they
got me, but we got a huge number
of them and long live the Desperate
tdesperate) Squadron which he asked
Ostini to give to me.
Throughout the return flight, Os-
tinis relief pilot held finger in a
bullet hole in the gas tank.
I'VE found each plane of the 20
had 10 or Is bullet holes.'
Birago, a mechanic, was shot in the
90 y,rIITOnIh ~.