WARLIKE ETHIOPIANS

Evening Post, Issue 36, 12 February 1935, Page 9

WARLIKE ETHIOPIANS

NO FEAB OF ITALIANS READY FOR EMERGENCIES LONDON, February 11. The "Daily Telegraph's" Addis Abeba correspondent says that the warlike tribes are offering opposition to the conciliatory policy; of the Ethiopian Emperor. The .Ethiopians are ■ essentially a warlike - race, - and rightly or wrongly have no fear of ,the Italians. ■ The reported continued aggression at Gerlogubi has greatly inflamed the soldiery. Between 50,000 and 80,000 equipped with modem rules and a number of machine-guns, are ready for emergencies, -while the Italians are replying with aeroplanes and tanks. ■ Early in the eighties of last century Italy had obtained her first formal footing on the African coast at the Bay of Assab on the Red Sea.. In 1885 the troubles in which Egypt found herself involved.. compelled the Khedive and his advisers to loosen their hold on the Red Sea littoral, and, with the tacit approval of Great Britain,. Italy took possession of Massawa and' other ports on that coast. In 1889 the Italians concluded with .the Negus Menelek of Abyssinia the Treaty of Uccialli which, besides settling the frontiers between' Abyssinia and the Italian sphere, contained the following article:—"His Majesty i the . King of Kings of. Ethiopia' consents to avail- himself of the Italian Government for any negotiations which he may enter into with the other Powers or Governments." This article was generally accepted by Italy and other European Governments as establishing^ Italian protectorate over Abyssinia, but this interpretation was never accepted by the I Emperor. Menelek, and at no tune did Italy succeed in establishing any very effective control over Abyssinian affairs. While Great Britain was lending her sanction.to Italy's ambitious schemes; the Abyssinian Emperor was becoming more and more incense.d at Italy's pretensions to exercise a' protectorate over Ethiopia. In 1893 Menelek denounced the Treaty of Uccialli and eventually, in a great battle, fought at Adowa on March 1,; 1896, the Italians were disastrously defeated., Owing to a mistake by the Italians in regard to the topography of the country, the various units were attacked: separately; by overwhelming forces, and the battle—or rather, series of distinct engagements—ended in a general rout. The Italians lost 4600 white troops and nearly 3000 native soldiers killed and wounded, while between- 2500 arid 3000 prisoners were taken by the Abyssiniaris: While the Abyssinians owned to a loss of over 3000 men, it is certain that this figure must have been greatly exceeded. By the; subsequent Treaty of Addis Abeba, the whole of the' country to the south of the Mareb, Belesa, and Muna Rivers was restored to Abyssinia,- and Italy acknowledged the absolute independence of Abyssinia. • ,