Evening star., 1935-10-06
AD|CRAT IS Scene
/. Of BITTER BATTLE
Ethiopian Warriors Fight
Hand to Hand With
Italians.
BY the Associated Press.

6y tne ASSOClhteQ FIcsSs
Adds ABABA, October 5.-Fierce
fighting ragged today on the northern
front, near Adigrat, where Ethiopian
warriors engaged in hand-to-hand
combat with the Italian troops, fight
ing with bayonets and daggers enemy
forces that used planes overhead.
The number of casualties was not
learned.
There was further fighting reported
on the Southern Ogaden front, fac
ing Italian Somaliland, with 1000
Ethiopians dead.
On the northern front the Ethiopian
lines are stretched over a fertile plain
en- route to, Aksum, % miles south
Of the Eritrean border. Throughout
the day. since the beginning Of hos
tilities. the native women have been
rushing to the battle lines with great
black jugs of water and tel "a liquor)
on their shoulders. They also bore
sacks Of corn to the fighters.
Aduwa Reported Occupied.
Unoff1cial reports reached the capi-
tai that Aduwa had been occupied by
an unopposed Italian army, the Ethi-
opians having withdrawn to reinforce
their brothers in arms near Adigrat.
The town was occupied by women,
children and men, too infirm for
war duty, the reports said.
Gan official communique to Rome by
the advancing army reported Aduwa
still In the hands OF the Ethiopians,
but expected 1t to be encircled by eve
ming. A similar communication was
received at Rome from the Italian
commander in AsmaraD
The Ethiopians are fighting on the
northern front to block a semi-cir-
cular inclosure by the Italian Army
from the north.
The Italians penetrated the towns
Of Wayeta and Enguela. near Adj
graf" said a government communique,
but have not yet reached Adigrat.
"A spirited battle occurred between
the forces Of Ras Seyoum ethiopian
commander of the area and Of Gen.
Emilio De Bono Qtalian leader. re-
sulting in the capture by the Ethio-
plans Of one Italian captain. three
Eritrean officers, two machine guns
and 10 rifles.
No Ethiopian officers were killed,
but considerable casualties were re-
ported among the soldiers on both
sides"
Further oficial charges were made
by Ethiopia Of attack on non-combat-
ants. A squadron Of Italian planes.
the charge related. shelled women and
children In the village Of Bethe Ha-
wariate, near Adigrat.
Mussolini's armies are making heavy
use Of planes. Attempts to bomb Ma
kale. 100 miles southeast of Aduwa
on the northern front, were reported,
the missiles going wide and setting fire
TO nearby forest.
Another report placed nine planes
within IS miles of Adds Ababa. over
the village Of Ahafatchi mot shown
on maps. The report, still uncon-
firmed. said they were en- route to
bomb the capital but lost their way.
Fierce Fighting Denied.
The government oficially denied to-
night rumors of fierce fighting in
the Mount Mussa Ali sector and that
the Italians were threatening the rail-
road to Djibouti. A spokesman pointed
out it was more than 200 miles across
the desert to the nearest railroad
point.
A rumor TOO Italians had been
killed in a night-long battle in the
Danakil country also was denied.
Priests went from house to house
reminding Ethiopians of David's tri-
umph over Goliath after the uncon-
nrmed reports reached here that the
Italians had entered Aduwa without
opposition.
Inhabitants had declared it would
never be relinquished until they we're
annihilated-a resolve that was i'm
mediately recalled today when the re-
ports of its fall arrived.
Early today inhabitants of Aduwa,
known as some Of the bravest fighters
in the empire, came back to bury
their dead. The victims of the bombs
Of Mussolini's army were buried on
the mountainside. by instruction of
the mayor, where lay the bones of
the Italians killed in the disaster of
1896.