The .Abyssinian Campaign During the past week no -serious fighting
has been reported by Marshal Badoglio on. any Ethiopian front. The general position is that the Italians have made or are making good the line of the Takazze, which with the rains -will become a strong defensive bulwark to the whole • Western flank of their main advance.. The . offensive towards Nogara in Wolkart (close to the Sudan border) may be the beginning of a serious threat to Gondar, but is more likely to be a diversion, for this country, though open to movement until June, then becomes difficult and • unhealthy to man and beast. The long delayed drive on Harrar may be impending, but again the time for it is short. In effect, the Italians. have gained since October about what any conservative critic would have predicted they would gain in the North, and a great deal less in the South, .where well-. informed observers anticipated the fall of Harrar by Christmas. The Abyssinian armies in the south, except that of Desta, are intact ; the Northern ones wary and • full of fight. The Emperor is, as always, ready to • consider peace proposals, but as disinclined as ever to accept any which are in his eyes unjust. It remains as clear as it ever was that satisfaction of Italy's ambitions can only be obtained by the prolongation of a bloody war and a subsequent process of armed pacification almost as costly and arduous as war itself.
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