TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO ADDIS ABABA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 7

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO ADDIS ABABA.

POMP AW CEREMONY Marshal Badoglio at Head of Victorious Army. ORDER RESTORED IN CAPITAL. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. Sir Sidney Barton, British Minister, has wirelessed the Foreign Office that a large force of Italian troops in lorries entered Addis Ababa this afternoon.

After an Italian native column had made junction with mechanised troops, amid ecstasies and enthusiasm Marshal Badoglio, while aeroplanes flew overhead, entered the city on a white charger at the head of the regiment of Bersaglieri wearing plumed helmets and grey-green uniforms, with Signor Alessandro Nessona, Minister of the Colonies, and. Signor Giuseppe Bottai, Governor of Rome, beside him.

Grenadiers and Alpini, staff officers, wireless operators, newspapermen, field kitchens, additional regiments of the line, engineers, and Black Shirt volunteers followed.

News of the arrival flew in a score of different languages to thousands of refugees. The Legation Guards relaxed their vigilance for the first time since Sunday's reign of terror, which culminated in M. Bodart, French Minister, ordering a number of mutineers to be shot in order to ensure the safety of the legations. "Work of the British Legation staff and guards, many of whom had no sleep for three days, is beyond praise. King Expresses Gratitude. King Victor Emanuel telegraphed Marshal Badoglio expressing his gratitude and his approval of the intrepid and victorious troops under his able and wise command. "The Times" Addis Ababa correspondent says complete order was restored with the entry of the Italians. The French Legation and Frenchmen were besieged in the railway buildings, and had repulsed all attacks. Prior to the entry of the Italians, Ras Ayelu, former Governor of Gojjam, had previously taken over the centre of the city with a force of 150 disciplined natives, and had arrested many looters and relieved the pressure on the legations. It will be remembered that Ras Ayelu was imprisoned for a long time for incurring the Emperor's displeasure. A British patrol had been defending the Belgian Legation against a fierce attack. A ration party from the British Legation, while fetching food from the onV undamaged store, beat off an attack and returned unmolested after taking refuge in a warehouse. The food supplies available will last some time. Attacks by Abyssinians armed with swords and rifles compelled the withdrawal to the Legation of the hilltop outpost. Dr. Junod sent a message imploring release from the outhouse in the yard of a burnt hotel, where he had been besieged for 30 hours.

LEADERS FLEE. SOUTHERN COMMANDERS. (Received 1.30 p.m.) ADDIS ABABA, May 5. Has Nasibu and Wchib Pasha, comluanclers of the Abyssinians od the southern front, finding that the Italians barred their way of escape into French Somaliland, headed for Jibouti, where they arrived safely.

"The Times" Rome correspondent says the Libyan Division, despite rain storms, resumed its advance on the southern front and occupied Farso, 70 miles from Jijiga and 95 miles from Harrar. FROM THE AIR. LIVE STOCK PARACHUTED. (Received 1 p.m.) ASMARA, May 5. Owing to the- heat precluding transportation of meat, Italian aeroplanes parachuted two live oxen and 200 live goats to the troops in the Sardo district of Aussa Province.