**Ende Gorge - The Matrix Games version of West Front

(H2H) (HISB) (Ende Gorge, Northern Abyssinia) A small affair, yet one where the Abyssinians* might have triumphed, had they a more modern, ruthless fighting tradition. Savage, fearless, merciless, these were the warrior characteristics valued by their ancient culture. But a fight was a day long affair...at night the tribesmen withdrew and feasted, boasting of their days' feats, real or imaginary. And tactics were usually a simple confontation...the clash followed by hand to hand combat. Command was vested in the hereditary ruling class, who generally had little or no military skill or knowledge of modern war evident (a notable exception being Menelik's brilliant victory over the Italians at Adowa in 1896). Essentially the Italo-Abyssinia War of 1935-6 was that of a modern European Power against a mediaeval horde. Thus the Italians....generally well motivated, competently led and with equipment well in advance of the traditionally armed Abyssinians, were able (with the aid of total air supremacy and ample supplies of mustard gas)** to defeat the armies of the Emperor Haile Selassie within eight months, adding this vast country to the shortlived Empire of Africa Orientale Italiana. Anyway, back to Ende Gorge....a supply column on the Italian left flank, escorted by Ascari units, was advancing towards Ma'kalle (80 km SW) and climbing the great escarpment that has protected Abyssinia/Ethiopia for time immemorial. This column was well led by BG Oreste Mariotti, who insisted on strong march discipline and constant readiness. Mariotti, anticipating an attack from the troops of the local lord, Dejasmatch Ras Kassa Sebat, entered the narrow gorge expecting trouble. *Today's Ethiopia was more generally known as Abyssinia in the 1930s. ** As far as I am aware this was the only time mustard gas was used in warfare between the end of WWI and the advent of the late unlamented Saddam Hussein. [SPECIAL NOTES] (EA On) The Abyssinians had weak fire power, but were formidable close combat warriors. So up close and personal is the way to go. Aim for disruption and assault. Game is designed for Extreme Assault..normal assault will advantage the Italians. Italian Pack arty and pack animals are disrupted and fatigued, to better simulate the time taken to bring pack arty into action. Unloaded pack animals simulate the supply column. Scen is based mostly on personal description by Herbert Matthews, the New York Times correspondent.