Evening star., 1935-10-04
FALL Of ADUWA
IS HELD IMMINENT
Northeastern Penetration
~ of Ethiopia Meets Little
Opposition.

ASMARA, Eritrea, october 4 tH1.-
Italian sources declared this evening
that the fall of Aduwa. "Verdun OF
Ethiopia" was imminent.
The Fascist columns had advanced
to the hills 10 miles away, command
ing the plain on which the city Is
situated.
Bombing planes scared overhead
and tanks. numbering overland. sprayed
bullets to lead the advance OF the
troops into the highlands.
Italians asserted very heavy cas-
ualties" had been inflicted upon the
natives. who we're terrified by the sight
of the death dealing. mysterious tanks.
Italian cavalry and infantry were
assisted by an air squadron flight in
which Vittorio and Bruno Mussolini,
the premier's two sons. participated.
The troops were within sight of
Aduwa-where the Italians hope to
wipe out the memory Of their defeat
of 40 years ago.
Duce's Kin Drops Bombs.
The official version of yesterdays
bombing of Aduwa and Adigrat fol-
lows:
After bombing the Notifications Of
Aduwa, Count Galleazzo Ciano. SON.
in-law Of II Duce. few over Adigrat.
There he dropped his remaining
bombs upon an armed group as the
Notifications directed heavy fire at
his plane. The squadron returned to
its base after completing the opera
tions."
Moving forward without noteworthy
obstruction, the Fascist troops forded
the shallow mountain torrents Of the
March River.
They pushed on steadily by new
paths to the village of Daro Tacle,
equidistant between the river and
Aduwa.
The advance column of Eritrean
cavalry encamped only IL miles from
Aduwa, commanding all approaches.
Warning Given Tribes.
Gen. Emilio de Bono. commanding
the Italian colonial forces, issued
proclamation to tribesmen Of the
Mareb River sector, warning them to
avoid a conflict.
Woe to all those who diffuse false
notices or disturb public order!" said
the proclamation. addressed to from
tier tribesmen in Ethiopia and Err
trea alike. Il shall be inexorable"
1t was issued simultaneously with a
proclamation at Mogadiscio, Italian
Somaliland. declaring both Eritrea
and Somaliland to be under full mar
tial law
The March hitherto marked the
borders of Italy's colony of Eritrea
and the Tigre region of Ethiopia
Details of the advance, reported to
military quarters here, indicated it
was ordered by Gen. de Bono almost
before the echoes of Mussolini's radio
speech to the mobilized Italian mil
lions died away Wednesday.
Troops Converge on Aduwa.
The vantage point gained by the
cavalry permitted them to swarm
down upon Aduwa defenses virtually
at will. The village Of Daro Tacle
dominates the Aduwa Basin.
Italian officers were jubilant at the
precision with which their first ad-
vance took place. They explained
that this same territory was relin-
pushed by Italy after the rout at
Aduwa in 1896. and that this was the
first time since then that an Italian
army had crossed the March.
Immediate obiectives are Abba and
Carima, 10 kilometers southeast Of
Aduwa, and the villages of Macalle,
Adigrat and Alagi. Each Of these
centers feeds on territory half again
as large as Switzerland.
The forward force, reports to mill
tary quarters here said. consists of a
strong advance column of Eritrean
cavalry under Gen. Alessandro Pirzio-
Biroli.
On big Six" Council.
Mussolini selected this crafty, So
year-old desert and mountain fighter
to act as one of the big six" generals
to whom he conflded the responsibility
for Italy's forces in East Africa.
Experienced with natives in the
sands and rocks of Libyan campaigns,
Gen. Pirzio-B -Biroi was assigned to
command the native troops of Eritrea.
His native cavalrymen were sup
ported by large detachments of Italian
infantrymen, tank corps and field ar
tillery. the numbers and identifica-
tions of which were kept a military Sc
cret.
Aduwa Defeat Recalled.
Military headquarters experts re-
called that it was in the region being
occupied that Gen. Baldisera, after the
defeat at Aduwa, regathered his forces
of 10000 Italian and native soldiers
and, after surprising the Ethiopian
garrison at Adigrat, was ready to
march on Adds Ababa.
That he did not do so is credited
now to the vacillation of the Italian
government of that time.