STRICKEN CAPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 10

STRICKEN CAPITAL

HALF NOW IN RUINS

FRENCH LEGATION IN PERIL

THREAT OF ATTACK

(Received May 4, 2.50 p.m.)

LONDON, May 3.

The British Cabinet will review the whole Abyssinian situation tomorrow, the Emperor's departure having, in the opinion of "Le Temps," precepitated the gravest international crisis since the Great War.

Addis Ababa is quieter now and the looting has ended. The town is being emptied. Heavy rain has reduced burning buildings to smouldering ruins.

The French Minister, M. Bodart, sent a message announcing that the Young Abyssinian Party, supported by lawless elements, is expected to carry out a threat to make a night attack on the French Legation, which has repulsed raids by bandits, who wounded several Italian prisoners.

M. Bodart commands an inadequate I force of 40 askaris with rifles and a few machine-guns, supported by picked refugees of sixteen nationalities armed with rifles and grenades. M. Flandin'reported his plight to Signor Mussolini, who replied that the Italism troops have been ordered to press on to Addis Ababa as speedily as possible. Twenty Frenchmen barricaded themselves 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 guerrilla warfare. The Abyssinian radio is silent. Patrols made a sortie from the Legation and rescued 300 Europeans. The garrison has cleared the garden for an aeroplane landing. M. Bodart reports that there are ample provisions of food and water. The women and children remain in underground refuges. A baby was born at the height of the rioting last night. The centre of the town is a shambles, and many of the corpses' have been mutilated in ghastly Abyssinian fashion. A drunken looter with a revolver shot the British Red Cross official, Dr. Kelly, in the lung. His condition is serious, but he is responding to treatment. ITALIANS IN SIGHT OP CITY. Radio operators in heavily-guarded Legations at 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,- the Customs house, business premises, and shops. The main Italian column is 30 miles distant. Its motor vehicles are being hampered by bad roads. The askari advance guards are in sight of the city, though they may await the ceremonial entry. The victors' advance guard is travelling by the road taken by the Duke of Gloucester when, amid rejoicings, he visited Addis Ababa for Hailc Selassie's coronation in 1930. The askaris must i pass the British Legation, four mile's j from the city, and where a thousand I refugees, including the Abuna and chief Coptic bishop, under the supervision of the British Ambassador Sir

Sidney Barton, are in the charge of a Sikh guard, under the protection of the Union Jack.