EARLIER PHASES OF CRISIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 270, 28 August 1935, Page 5

EARLIER PHASES OF CRISIS.

MANOEUVRES UNDER FIRE.

4 FACING WAR. CONDITIONS.

LONDON, August 27

Mr G. Ward Price, who is attached to Signor Mussoli’s personal staff during the manoeuvres, in a message to the “Daily Mail” from Verona, reveals that the infantry advances are being made behind a “creeping barrage” of live shells and with machineguns firing ball cartridges. This is obviously dangerous, but Signor Mussolini emphasises that it is necessary to accustom the soldiers to real war conditions. MODE TROOP 9 FOR AFRICA. LONDON, August 26. The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that as the end oi the rainy season approaches, Italy is speeding up the dispatch of troops to East Africa. Two thousand more men sailed from Naples on August 26. AH pleasure cruises from Italian ports have been stopped, making more vessels available for troop-carrving.

INITIAL AIR ATTACK.

ITALIANS PLAN OFFENSIVE

LONDON, August 26,

The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “News-Chronicle” says: “If the League of Nations fails to avert war, it is believed that Italy’s attack will start with a mass air raid on Addis Ababa, beginning at 6 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. The first relays of Italian aeroplanes would probably approach the capital under the cover of darkness.”

ETHIOPIAN DEFENSIVE ACTS.

LONDON, August 27

It is reported from Addis Ababa that the Government lias rounded up the city’s idlers and drafted them to the Ogaden army. Arms ancl ammunition from the palace depot were issued almost furtively yesterday night to troops outside the city, to avoid alarming the populace. CONSIDERING PEACE PROPOSALS SUPPOSED PURPOSE OF MEETING

LONDON, August 20,

The Bolzano correspondent of the “Morning Post” says it is believed that the Italian Cabinet has been called together to consider the new British and French peace proposals. LABOUR ACTION POSSIBLE. BRITISH AND FRENCH LEADERS. LONDON, August 27. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says that the week-end meeting of Major C. R. Attlee (leader of the British Labour party) and M. Leon Blum (President of the French Socialist party) at Paris is arousing interest, as it is believed that they discussed the

possibility of joint British and French Labour action should either the League of Nations or the Governments concerned fail to avert an Abyssinian war. The proposed action, it is suggested, might include a refusal to handle essential supplies consigned to Italy. The Socialist press openly advocates such action, but the rest of the French press anxiously deprecates any discussion of possible action that could be taken in the event of a breakdown, at Genova on the ground that the Italian attitude would thus be further hardened. The semi-official “Temps” goes even farther, declaring that since unanimity is required at Geneva it is in any case premature to talk of sanctions. HELP FROM MARCONI. ROME, August 27. Signor Mussolini is reported to be calling up Marchese Marconi lor special service in Abyssinia. ITALIANS ARREST INDIANS. ADEN, August 27. A message from Massawa (Eritrea) states that 15 Indians, w r ho are British subjects, are reported to have been arrested by the Italians because they telegraphed to Aden advising their business associates not to ship any further merchandise to Massawa.