WAR CHEST FUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 266, 9 November 1935, Page 7

WAR CHEST FUNDS.

MONEY FOR ALLIES. ETHIOPIANS' TAY CUT. (By LAURENCE STALLTNGS.) HARRAR, October 12. The Ethiopians are opening their southern war chest and are handing out gold and silver to the hill chiefs, making sure of the support of the Home Guards. I saw Fitaourari Bakale', an ancient front fighter from the Jijiga mountains, receive his money bags to-day and depart merrily on muleback preceded by 2000 hill men. Most of them wero going to Susan Baneh happily supplied with funds from the Negus. A cajoling tinkle of coinage accompanies the redisposition of the troops moving towards the Wadi Shebeli after failing to draw the invader across the desert. I can personally testify to the marksmanship of these highlamlers. Their throwing and firing is superb. Old Fitaourari Bakale is able to crack a bottle with a rifle shot a hundred yards away with the greatest of ease. A not inconspicuous personage in th< i Fitaourari'fi procession was Madami i Bakale, a handsomely dressed womar I who accompanied her lord armed wit! I a chromium-plated rifle. I fear, though that this gun has to be balanced on th< shoulder of a bondsman before Madam Bakale can develop the same accuracy of fire as her husband. Round one of the fighting has emle< in favour of the Italians. The proo of this is that the Italian pressure no-t of Adowa is causing the Abyssii::: forces to regroup themselves in t;i. neighbourhood. (Copyright by N.A.N.A.)