REAL TEST AHEAD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 305, 8 October 1935, Page 5

REAL TEST AHEAD

THRESHOLD OPEN TO THE INVADERS

HORDES OF NATIVE WARRIORS

AWAKING ON NEW DEFENCE LINE $ IN MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 7. Now that the Italian tri-colour floats over Adowa in token of the obliteration of the defeat of 1896 and an 1 obelisk has been erected to the memory of the taller, the northern threshold of Abyssinia lies open to the invaders, though the entrance is narrowed by the Abyssinians’retention of the holy city of Aksum, 16 miles to |he west, the capture of which is essential before tne Italian army can fully consolidate its gams. - The Italians are continuing to deal with snipers before pushing into the mountainous wilderness to the south, where the real test of the campaign begins. The effectiveness of the tanks, . four of which have already been lost with the crews killed, will here be nullified. The first obstacle to the advance will be a new fine orebared by Ras Seyoum on terrain thoroughly familial ' to himself, but not yet known to the invaders except by aerial reconnaissance. One hundred thousand reinforcements are hastening • ‘ to Ras SeyounVs aid. His line extends-from Aksum to Mekale, facing' the Italians disposed along the Adowa-Entiscie-Adigrat front. Behind Ras Seyoum s mobile barrier wait hordes of native warriors under territorial ' commanders, who, as the Emperor proudly told the League, “have not yet begun to fight. Meanwhile, Roman legions in a cavalcade of modern war stream across the Mareb River and traverse the Abyssinian border to add weight to the coming onslaught.

NATURAL OBSTACLES MET.

MECHANISED ARMY’S ADVANCE.

ENGINEERS’ CEASELESS TOIL: (Received This Day, 11.30 a.in.) v LONDON, October 7. Battalion after battalion of Italian Askaris lead the way for speciallytrained mountain regiments, equipped with accurate screw-guns and heavier tractor-drawn field pieces. , The flowing torrent of armed life is varied by mechanised field, trains and horses and mules bringing up the paraphernalia of warfare. Once the Adowa area is consolidated hospitals built and ammunition dumps deposited, an advance, witli bombing ’planes leading, will be made toward Aksum. •* \ Meanwhile engineers toil day and night widening the roads, and building bridges through' a wilderness where even wheel tracks were previously; unknown. Already a steel ,and timber bridge - spans the Mareb river.

PROVING THE AGGRESSOR.

ADOWA NOT DEFENDED.

ONLY FRONTIER GUARDS

ENGAGED

(Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) . LONDON, October 7. A British United Press correspondent says that the Emperor Haili Selassie telegraphed to the League pointing out that the Abyssinian army has not yet gone into action, the forces thus far engaged being merely frontier guards and isolated detachments'. No attempt had been made to defend Adowa, in order that there should be no doubt left as to who was the aggressor.

A TOWN DESTROYED.

; HUNDREDS OF ITALIAN BOMBS. LONDON, October 7. The Addis Ababa correspondent of “The Times” believes that Gerlogubi was wiped out by Italian aeroplanes, hut there was no serious loss of lifeHundreds of bombs dropped at Goraphai failed to explode. Five were killed and 15 wounded. The small casualties were probably due to the softness of the earth. Noel Monks says that though the i Government admits that Adowa lias been taken, it claims that the Italians have not yet occupied it. “The Times” Rome correspondent regards the northern as the most important sector and considers that the attack from Somaliland as having barely developed.

DENMARK READY FOR SANCTION

COPENHAGEN, October 6

The Foreign Minister (Dr. P. R. Munch), slated that Denmark would participate in economic sanctions against Italy.

GREATER MENACE THAN EVER.

ITALIANS ONE-SIDED VICTORY.

INCESSANT SNIPING AT ADOWA

(Received This Day, 9,40 .ami.). LONDON, October 7. It is reported that Adowa is virtually a no man’s land despite the Italian victory. Abyssinian irregulars w r ere harassing the Italians throughout the night with incessant sniping, forcing them to send out “mopping up” parties equipped with machine guns. Theoretically the snipers ivere cleaned up with merciless fire at the rate of 600 rounds per minute, but actually hundreds of tribesmen survived, as they have the faculty of literally becoming part of the ground. Viewed in the cold light of strategy the fall of Adowa has been a onesided victory. Ras Seyoum fell back to a carefullyselected position, bridging the gap between Makale and Aksum. He is, now a greater menace than when lie occupied Adowa.

OBJECTION TO A PHRASE. CONSUL ENDS AN INTERVIEW. INCIDENT IN MELBOURNE. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE. This Day. When one of three representatives of the Victorian Council against War, who interviewed the Italian Consul (Cavaliere Anzilotti) used expressions which the Consul considered insulting to the Italian Government, the Consul terminated the interview.

The Council against War had arranged a deputation to ask that its protest against the attack by Italy on Abyssinia should be sent to the Italian Government.

While the interview was in progress a flag bearing the words “Hands Off Abyssinia,” was hoisted over a building in which the ‘Consulate is situated. The words to which the Consul objected included a reference to ni “murderous attack.”

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

ABYSSINIAN WARRIORS ON MOVE.

EMPEROR TO VISIT THE FRONT

LONDON, October 7

The Addis Ababa correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says the Emperor has dispatched a portable throne and firearms to Dessie and he expects to leave to command the armies there. He will possibly be accompanied by the Empress. He will probably visit all three fronts by air, to inspire the defenders.

The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says. 40,000 troops have been sent to Dessie, while vigorous measures have been adopted _ to offset the. capture of Adowa, which, according to Major-General Temperley, correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” is only the first round, preceding an advance to Addis Ababa on which the Italians will begin to run out supply depots. They must thus proceed more slowly, without a hope of concentrating such forces in a single

area as at Adowa. The strategic result of the Adowa victory, General Tern* perley says, is not likely to be great. Italy’s greatest tasks lie ahead. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Abysisnian warriors are on the move. The imperial guard has been ordered to the Ogaden district. The Emperor has ordered the army south of Jijiga, numbering from 60,000 to 100,000 men, to begin an offensive under Dedjasmatch Habte Michail, in order to withstand a possible Italian offensive from Somaliland to Ilarrar, and thence to Addis Ababa. Ualual Captured The Abyssinians are reported to have captured Ualual. If this is true, it shows the effectiveness of guerrilla warfare. Ras Kassa, at Debra Tabor, with 150,000 men, is moving northward to support Res Serfjum near Adowa and is sending 7000 cavalrv to aid Dedjesn.atch Ayalou’s resistance in the northwest.

The Emperor has appointed Ras Getatchaw Abata as War Minister, superseding Ras Moulougheta. It is reported that the Mayor of Adowa, attended by clergy and leading citizens, waited on General de Bono and offered the traditional gitfs of milk, honey and bread, in token- of homage and submission. The Italian troops report that aerial bombs struck several buildings, but there was po sign that a hospital ever existed. Dr. Martin (Abyssinian Minister in London) regards the evacuation of Adowa, after the invaders had been delayed as a good strategic move. The correspondent of the “Daily Mail” with the Adowa column says that one of the Italian divisions carried a monument carved in basalt by a sol dier for erection in the cetnre of Adowa as a memorial to those who fell there in 1896.

It is reported that the Emperor ordered Dedjasmatch Amde to recover Dolo from the Italians, in view of its strategic importance at the frontiers of Kenya, Abyssinia , and Italian Somaliland. Meanwhile the Italian invaders in this section are moving north and consolidating the wells.

ADDIS ABABA PREPARES.

SPEEDY EVACUATION ARRANGED TRENCHES AND BOMB-PROOF SHELTERS. ADDIS ABABA, October 7. The Emperor has ordered the entire population to dig trenches and bombproof shelters in the hills adjoining the British Legation. The arrangements for a speedy evacuation of the city are so thorough that it is expected that the Italian raiders, will find it deserted. The diplomatic cotps have telegraphed their respective Govrnments, asking them to seek assurances that Italy will not bomb Addis Ababa and Direawa. Air raids, however, are unlikely while the Italian Minister remains at Addis Ababa.

ITALY’S SUBMARINES.

22 COMPLETED IN 18 MONTHS.

LONDON, October 6. The naval. correspondent 'of the “Daily Telegraph” discloses that four powerful submarines have been adder to the Ifi.lian navy. Three displace 2000 tons each and have a speed of 17 knots. The fourth displaces 1880 tons, has a speed of 15) knots, a cruising radius of 11,000 miles and can dive to 400. feet. Each is armed with two 4.7 inch guns, three have eight torpedo tubes, and the fourth has six, and also carries 40 n-ires. Italy has completed 22 submarines in the last 18 months. Twelve more are being constructed.

OFFER NOT ACCEPTABLE. .... \ '

WITHDRAWAL OF LIBYAN FORCES.

BRITISH NAVAL REDUCTION. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 7. British circles at Geneva describe as unacceptable Mussolini’s offer, that appears in a French newspaper, to withdraw his troops from Libya- if Britain reduces her naval concentration in the Mediterranean.

NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN.

REQUEST BY MUSSOLINI

GENEVA, October 7

. Immediately’ M. Laval arrived lie interviewed Baron Aloisi, who is believed to have made new overtures at the request of Mussolini. M. Laval then saw Mr Anthony Eden, after which ho conferred again with Baron Aloisi.

COMPROMISE POSSIBLE.

BASIS OF CONCESSION. ITALIAN ARMS VINDICATED. LONDON, October 7. The Rome correspondent- of the “Daily Mail” says it is felt that a compromise is possible on the basis of important concessions, which Italy is reported to he willing to make ; namely, Italy’ will not insist on the anuexation of Abyssinian territory as origially belonging to the Amharic. tribe, but will accept it under a League mandate, which could be for a limited period. She would also give Britain an undertaking to limit the size of her army recruited in Abyssinia. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” says the taking of Adowa has aroused hopes that Mussolini will be satisfied with the vindication of Ital-

ian arms and , will now ho ready to negotiate a reasonable settlement. Mr Stanley Baldwin's reiteration of the British attitude is not self-interest. The continued presence of the Italian delegate at 'Geneva arid Mussolini’s Note to Sir Samuel Hoare provide justification for a more optimistic view.

THE LEAGUE’S DECISION.

ITALIAN VIOLATION OF TREATY. COMMITTEE OP SIX REPORTS. LONDON, October 7. It is understood that the report of the Commitee of Six declares that “the Italian Government resorted to war in violation of Article XII. It is unnecessary for war to be formally declared in order to apply Article XVI.

COUNCIL ADOPTS REPORT. ALOISI ALONE DISSENTS. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) GENEvA, October 7. The League Council, with Baron Aloisi alone voting against it, adopted the report of the Committee of Thirteen.

ITALY SEEKS DELAY.

THE QUESTION OF NEGOTIATIONS ABYSSINIAN CONDITION. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) GENEVA, October 7. The Committee of Thirteen unanimously adopted l the report by the Committee of Six. M. Laval attempted to obtain from Italy immediate cessation of hostilities, enabling delay in the application of sanctions and initiation of new negotiations.

Hecla iHlawariat (Abyssinia), however, insisted that negotiations were possible only after withdrawal of the Italians from Abyssinian soil. Baron Aloisi (Italy) made ai fruitless last-minute attempt to delay proceedings, saying that he had had no time to study the report.

DEFENCE AND CRITICISM.

SLOWNESS IN PROCEDURE.

BRITISH VIEWS ON LEAGUE.

LONDON, October 7.

“The Times,” in a leading article, refers fo the gathering momentum of events at Geneva- and cites the report of the Committee of Thirteen, whose conclusions Baron Aloisi’s flimsy _ excuses do not controvert, as an intimation cf the possibilities .of negotiation. It adds that the-league procedure may lead to criticisms because of its slowness, but every step must be considered in order to avoid making a bad position worse. Economic and financial measures which are thought slow, and are dependent on the co-operation of those states outside the league, need not for these reasons be ineffectual. The value of the league lies in helping Italy to realise how terrible her blunder is before it becomes irretrievable.

The “-Daily Telegraph,” in a leading article, suggests that a victory at Adowa will enable Italian chivalry tc forget the disaster of 1896.'

The Committee of Thirteen is unanimous in its verdict on all counts against Italy. There is no thought of imposing other than economic Or financial sanctions, yet their pressure will be negligible unless they are made very effective from the outset.

The “Daily Herald,” iii a leading article, declares that the record of the Council meeting is hardly readable without a sense of shame. It adds: “The flagrancy of Italy’s aggression was patent on Thursday, yet the council on Saturday did nothing but appoint a committee to inquire whether there had been any aggression at all. M. Laval undoubtedly will employ every pretext to ensure any action innocuous to Italy.. This is sabotaging the league. Unless the league acts swiftly and effectively it will be use less for safeguarding European peace. “Mr Roosevelt’s proclamation finely contrasts with- Geneva’s hesitations. War can speedily be stopped if the council displays courage and decision.

The j “Daily Mail” doubts whether Britain and the Dominions will face the risk of war on behalf of the league as well as a possible war of British self-defence. “If the league transforms itself into a war instrument it will speedily end its career. _ We can avoid war by rearming and minding our own business.”

THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

COMMENT ON PREMIER’S SPEECH

“UNCOMPROMISING SUPPORT.”

LONDON, October 5.

The newspapers choose for special comment three points in the speech delivered by the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) at Bournemouth. t Although it was delivered at the close of the annual conference of the Conservative and Unionist Associations, the speech was directed to the nation, rather than to a party, as the Liberal newspaper, the “News-Chron-icle,” observes in a leading article. The article states that in his main arguments, Mr Baldwin “will have, and deserves to have, the uncompromising support of the overwhelming mass of his fellow countrymen.” The first point generally commented on is Mr Baldwin’s repudiation of isolationism, which is described as a dangerous heresy o$ national and Imperial grounds, and as impossible. “I regaid collective security as something iiot only of real and practical benefit to this country, but as something which

offers us greater security than can be obtained by any other policy we have yet seen advocated,” he said. “The Times” says of these passages: “This may be a hard doctrine to a nation accustomed to its own security and liberty, but it is incontrovertible.’ The second part of the speech, which created wide interest, was that dealing with the Italian threat to the system of collective security. Mr Baldwin repudiated. indignantly the suggestion that the issue in the present crisis lies between Italy and Britain alone. "It will bode ill for the League of Nations if one of its leading members, in proclaiming its fidelity to its obligations, to which we are all equally bound by our own free will,; can be held up to suspicion . and misrepresentation of its motives,” he stated. Need For all to Act. The character of the British interest in the dispute, Mr Baldwin implied, was evident from the fact that “his Majesty’s -Government has not had, and had never had, any intention of taking isolated action. If the security which the nations of Europe regard as a primary essential for peaceful development can best be achieved by collective counsel and collective action, then the responsibility for any action that may be taken rests on all, and must be faced squarely by all.” ■ . . Several writers welcome the insistence by the Prime Minister that; in the words of “The Times,” the conflict is not between Italy and this country, but “a struggle by all members of the League to maintain the principle of no change by force, to which all, including Italy, are committed.” The third point in the speech which the newspapers' note was Mr Baldwin’s statement: “I cannot conceal from myself the fact that some day the fulfilment of obligations under the League may mean that the nations which are fulfilling them may have to maintain by force of arms the Covenant of the League,” and his references to what Britain has done in the way of practical disarmament beyond. any other country in Europe. The Government could not continue to accept those obligations without repairing the de-ficiencies-which had arisen in the 'defence services.

“This, is neither the time nor the place to go into details,” said Mr Baldwin, “but I would repeat that there is a risk in accepting obligations—and I mean by obligations, our obligations as a member of the League of Nations—unless' we are able to carry out those obligations to the full. I do not like the doubts and questionings which have reached me from the world at large as to our ability to fulfil those obligations. So long as these doubts exist, our word will not carry that weight in the counsels of the world that the word of Great Britain always has carried, always ought to carry, and I hope,' always will carry.”

VIOLATION OF COVENANT.

THE,COMMITTEE’S FINDING.

MR EDEN SEEKS EARLY ACTION

LONDON, October 6. The Geneva correspondent of , ,the Associated Press says that the Committee of Six has decided not to disclose the contents of its report until it is circulated among the members of the Council. Nevertheless, it is understood that although the committee has unanimously decided that the Covenant has been violated, the report, in order not to wound the susceptibilities of certain countries, does, not mentiqn the aggressor, but indicates that Italy has resorted to war in defiance of the Covenant. The correspondent has been assured that the Council will vote on the report on Monday. ; ' Mr R. A. Eden (British-Minister for League Affairs) pressed the committee to complete its task to-night.- This was achieved after a three-hour sitting. He was disappointed that the Council on Saturday had not made real progress, but as members will have had time to study the report of the Committee of Six, with which Mr Eden is well satisfied, the Council will presumably be unable to delay further. The Council will meet at 5 p.m. tomorrow. It will first vote on the report of the Committee of Thirteen, and will then consider the report of the Committee of Six, thus moving immediately from Article XV. to Article, .XVI. However, .in view of the resolution of 1921, in which the Assembly. laid .it down that each country must decide itself; whether an act of aggression has been committed, it will not be legally necessary to make a vote on Monday, but; policy and practicability both demand that members should define their position at the council table. Unless they have . become apprehensive- of determination since they expressed it in the debate in the Assembly, as all the members except Italy produced the report of the Committee of Thirteen, the voting on it should be formality. Then arises the question whether the same members can be screwed up to declare unanimously that Italy is the aggressor. Unanimity on this question is unnecessary, but desirable. .It then becomes a question whether the Council will recommend the carrying out of the Covenant in its entirety.

EGYPT AND BRITAIN. CO-OPERATION ASSURED. LONDON, October 6. The Alexandria correspondent of “The Times” understands that, as a result of long Anglo-Egyptian conferences, owing to the potential threat to Egyptian ■ frontiers by the reinforcements of the Italian garrison at Libya, harmonious. Anglo-Egyptian co-opera-tion is assured.

Public opinion still chafes under inferiority but appears more favourable to Britain.

ANGLO-FRENCH CO-OPERATION.

ASSISTANCE AGAINST AGGRESSION.

LONDON, October 7. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says the French reply to the British inquiry for assistance in preventing the conflict from spreading to Europe, in addition to promising the required assistance, expresses a. desire to infer that Britain agrees with France on the principle of automatic assistance within the framework of the Covenant in all cases of unproyoked

aggression on both land and sea. Consequently Britain will aid. France in the event of aggression within the limits of the Treaty of Locarno. The logicol outcome of that would necessitate- constant preliminary measures, such measures not being considered as aggression against a third Power.

POSSIBLE RIVAL STRATEGY.

ABYSSINIAN FLANK ADVANCES.

CONSOLIDATION BY ITALIANS.

LONDON, October 7

Directing attention to a “persistent rumour from a reasonably reliable source,” that Dedjasmatch Ayelu has led his troops, across the Setit River and is advancing toward Agordat, the special correspondent of “The Times” at Addis Ababa says this, with . Dedjasmatch Haile Selassie’s movement from Makale to Barakit, suggests confirmation of the forecasts that the Ethiopian strategy will be to fall back in the centre with a show of resistance at Adowa, while the western and eastern flanks are advanced north. The special correspondent of the United Press with the Italians at Adowa, however, suggests that the invaders are planning ,to resist such tactics. He says the Italians have penetrated an average depth of 25 miles, on a face 30 miles long. The next goal is Aksum, which will probably fall today, after which a fortnight’s halt will be employed to consolidation, including reinforcements of men and artillery and construction of roads.

CELEBRATIONS IN ROME.

WILD EXCITEMENT OVER ADOWA “WE ARE AVENGED AT LAST,” ROME, October 7. Italy frantically celebrated the first success of the campaign at Adowa. Yelling thousands burst from the cinemas, where the victory was announced, and filled the streets. Uniformed Fascists streamed to the Palazzo Venezia and cheered Signor Mussolini, who, however, did not appear. Torchlight processions marched through the streets, the people singing and waving banners. “We are avenged at last,’ is the phrase on all lips. It is Italy S happiest night since the Austrian armistice. , ;

“WE DON’T CARE A CURSE.”

ITALIAN VIEW OF SANCTIONS. ROME, October 7. “Wes don’t care a curse,” the inscription on banners carried by demonstrators, reflects the Italian viewpoint regarding sanctions. It is pointed out that while Geneva is talking Italy has concluded commercial treaties with Spain and Rbumania. The latter has promised not to terminate oil supplies.

WAR CORRESPONDENT DIES.

VICTIM OF- MALARIA

LONDON,. October 6

A message from Addis Ababa states that Mr Wilfred Barber, the war correspondent of the “Chicago Tribune, has died of fever. Mr Barber was 31 years of age. He was a graduate of Columbia UniverbltHe had visited the Ggaden front, known as the “Yellow Hell,” and contracted malaria, which he warned his colleagues would attack any white man who went there. While his recovery seemed possible his friends arranged for an aeroplane to bring-his .wife and to take! him aivay. He was married a year ago. The Emperor,. who regarded Mr Barber as a. loyal friend, granted this, unprecedented permission, but it was too late. Mr Barber will- be buried on a mound overlooking the capital.

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY.

PROCLAMATION TO TRAVELLERS

WASHINGTON, October 6. President Roosevelt rounded out his neutrality programme to-day liy issuing from Hoiistou (Texas), a proclamation warning against travel in vessels of belligerents. In- effect, of course, it applies only to Italian tonnage, as Ethiopia has no merchant marine. Persons already en route or unable to cancel hookings 'fire specifically exempt. <» The proclamation declares: “I find that the protection of the lives of citizens of the United States requires that they should refrain from travelling in passenger vessels of either of the belligerent nations,” and concludes with an admonition to citizens to refrain from doing so.