The Abyssinian Defeats Whether or no the Italian armies in
Abyssinia will, as has recently been claimed, be able to carry on active operations during the rains, Marshal Badoglio has beyond shadow of doubt made both furious and successful haste while the going is good. News, unofficial at the imment of writing, has come of the capture of Gondar, the capital of the Amhara province. If this is true an advance of really remarkable rapidity has been effected. Much of Wolkait, in the north-western --Corner of Abyssinia, is also reported to have been occupied. These two developthents are of far-reaching importance, not only for the extension of conquered area that they imply, but for the strategic security they confer on the right flank of the Ashangi advance. Gondar itself is Of no great importance, but it is an -admirable advaneed- base for the invasion of Gojjam, the richest province of Abyssinia. At the same time, and also unconfirmed, comes a report of the defeat, near Lake Ashangi'; of an army led by the Emperor in person. Comnient in the absence of. full details is premature, but such a defeat would obviously have grave consequences, especially if the defeated army has .failed to extricate itself. The incursion into the Danakil country east of. -DeSsie may mean much or little, but if Abyssinian military resistance is severely shattered at Asharigi this incursion will leave its authors with nothing but geographical obstacles to overcome.
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