A SHAMBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 7

A SHAMBLES.

STRICKEN CAPITAL. Natives Urge Complete Ruin To Balk Invaders. SHOCKING SPECTACLE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 3. Radio operators in the heavilyguarded Legations in the stricken capital, flash hourly bulletins while the Italian armies have drawn slowly nearer, unaware that agitators are urging the complete destruction of the city in order to rob the invaders of a triumphal entry. Half the town is already in ruins, including the Palace, the Post Office, railway shops, the railway warehouses, the Customs House and business premises. The main Italian column is 30 miles distant. Its motor vejiicles are hampered by bad roads, but Askari advance guards are in sight of the city though they may wait to make the ceremonial entry of victors. The advance guard travels on the road taken by the Duke of Gloucester when, amid rejoicings, he visited Addis Ababa for Haile Silassie's coronation in 1930. Askaris must pass the British Legation, four miles from the city in which there are 1000 refugees, including Abuna, the chief Coptic bishop, under the supervision of Sir Sidney Barton. The Legation has a Sikh guard and is under the protection of the Union Jack.

Smouldering Ruins of Addis Ababa. The capital is quieter now and looting has ended. The town is emptying. Heavy rain has reduced burning buildings to smouldering ruins. The French Minister, M. Bodart, in a message, announces that the Young Abyssinian party, supported by lawless elements, carried out their threat of a night attack 011 the French Legation, which repulsed the raids of the bandits, who wounded several Italian prisoners. M. Bodart commands an inadequate force of 40 Askaris with rifles and a few machine-guns supported by picked refugees of 10 nationalities armed with rifles and grenades. M. Flandin reported his plight to Signor Mussolini, who replied that Italian troops had been ordered to press on to Addis Ababa as speedily as possible. Twenty Frenchmen barricaded themselves in near the station defying the mobs, while bandits and soldiers sniped one another and fought hand to hand. M. Bodart is confident that independent chiefs will continue guerilla warfare. Perilous Plight of Europeans. The Abyssinian radio is silent. Patrols engaged in soreties from the Legation and rescued 300 .Europeans. The garrison cleared a garden for an aeroplane landing. The French Minister reports that there is ample provisions of food and water. Women and children remain in underground refuges.

A baby was born at the height of the rioting last night. Tile centre of the town is. a shambles. There are many corpses mutilated in the ghastly Abyssinian fashion.

A drunken looter shot a British Red Cross official, Dr. Melly, in a lung. His condition is serious but lie is responding to treatment.

The British Cabinet will review the whole Abyssinian situation on Monday.

The Emperor's departure has, in the opinion of "Le Temps," precipitated the gravest international crisis since the Great War.

NARROW ESCAPE

MUSSOLINI'S SON-IN-LAW. ADDIS ABABA, May 3. Signor Mussolini's son-in-law, Count Ciano, was attempting to make a test landing at the Akaki aerodrome, seven miles from the capital, when a burst of machine-gun fire pierced the petrol tanks of his machine. The crew had to stop the holes with rags to enable them to return to their base safely.