WARLIKE PLANS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 9

WARLIKE PLANS

More Italian Troops For

East Africa RAINY SEASON ENDING Attack May Start With Mass Air Raid By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright (Received August 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, August 27. The “Daily Mail’s” Rome correspondent says that as the end of the rainy season approaches Italy is speeding up the dispatch of troops to East Africa. Two thousand more sailed from Naples on Monday. All pleasure cruises from Italian ports have been stopped, enabling more vessels to be available. The “News-Chronicle’s” Addis Ababa correspondent says that if the League 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 cover of darkness. Sir Percival Phillips, writing to the “Daily Telegraph” from Addis Ababa, says that the. ignorant peasantry remains bewildered and unable to grasp the grim realities of air attack. For a week now an Abyssinian aeroplane has been circling the city in order to accustom natives to aircraft. The police are explaining to them exactly what it does,, including the “dropping of weapons which make a big noise and destroy buildings.” Sir Percival announces that a Swiss chef attached to the court has taken a holiday in view of the action of the Emperor and the Empress in abstaining from meat for a month, beginning to-day. Priests continue intercessory services, and foreign merchants are panic-stricken by .-the Bank of Ethiopia’s refusal to sell foreign exchange, as a result of which the thaler has fallen 4/- in the £. Many merchants are fleeing to the coast and others are closing their shops. Hundreds of natives, apprehensive of an early air attack, are taking refuge in the hill villages, accompanied by their wives under umbrellas.

The Italian Legation has dispatched luggage to Djibouti, indicating its eventual withdrawal. France is strengthening her railway defences.

After sixteen days’ fasting and praying for peace, the Empress, with drawn face and appearing to be greatly weakened, told an interviewer that if the peace is disturbed she will be the first to exhort the people against the invader and will follow the example of the Empress Taitou, who fought at her husband’s side at the Battle of Adowa.

Sir Percival Phillips also reports that, influenced by the fact that hundreds of natives were returning to country districts, the Government rounded up the city’s idlers and drafted them into the Ogaden Army. Arms and ammunition from the palace depot were issued almost furtively last night to troops outside the city to avoid alarming the populace.

NEW PEACE PROPOSALS Italian Cabinet to Meet MEMBERS AT MANOEUVRES (Received August 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, August 26. The “News-Chronicle’s" Bolzano correspondent says that Signor Mussolini has called a special meeting of Cabinet to be held at Bolzano on August 28. Most members of Cabinet are already at Bolzano participating in the manoeuvres.

The purpose of the meeting is unknown. Only administrative questions will be discussed, not Abyssinia, but it would be in keeping with Signor Mussolini's sense of the dramatic to make some pronouncement regarding his intentions in Abyssinia while surrounded by troops in the north of Italy. The “Morning Post’s’’ Bolzano correspondent says that it is believed the Cabinet has been railed together to consider new British and French peace proposals. Meanwhile the Foreign Office officials at Rome are preparing the Italian case against Abyssinia for presentation to the League Council on September 4. It is understood that Italy will argue that Abyssinia should be expelled from the League.

Mr. Ward Price, who is attached to .Signor Mussolini’s personal staff during the manoeuvres, cabling to the “Daily Mail" from Verona, reveals that infantry advances are being made behind a “creeping barrage” of lire shells and machine-guns firing ball cartridges. This Is obviously dangerous, but Signor Mussolini emphasises that it is necessary to iccustom soldiers to real war conditions.

Signor Mussolini arrived at Bolzano this afternoon amid a flourish of trumpets, and stood erect In his car to receive the plaudits of the citizens. Afterward he read reports from Signor Baistrocchi, Under-Secretary of War, who paid a tribute to the efficiency of the mechanised troops.

The Duke of Bergamo, at present commanding a brigade at Bolzano, has. been appointed to a staff post in East Africa. Signor Mussolini is reported to be calling up the Marchese Marconi for special service in Abyssinia. COMMERCIAL OPINION War in Abyssinia Worst to be Feared London, August 26. Discussing the effects of the possibility of war on Britain’s financial position, the “Daily Telegraph’s” financial writer says that last week the Stock Exchange recognised the existence of a very awkward situation. Jobbers took the precaution of reducing prices. Investors and speculators, professional and private, kept their heads. The paucity of selling surprised most experienced dealers. “There seems to be no reason why this steady attitude should not tie maintained,” he says, “until the League's decision is known. If the world thought this country was steering to war the effect on the rate of the pound sterling would be seen very quickly, but the tendency of sterling

recently has been to appreciate, and this is more notable because it is contrary to the usual seasonal trend. There is evidence that both the leaders of the rank and file of the city and investing public are calmly surveying all eventualities in a realistic frame of mind. The worst that the city looks foi is a certain measure of hostilities in Abyssinia and a frosh period of grave uncertainty in Europe, but it recognises that nothing which is likely to happen need change the fundamental basis of British progress."