UNCERTAIN GRIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 11, 14 January 1941, Page 7

UNCERTAIN GRIP

MUSSOLINI'S EMPIRE

DISCONTENT RIFE

TRIBESMEN GO" TO SELASSIE

(By.' Telegraphs—Ptess Association'—Copyrights LONDON* January- 12; ' While the British^ continue their ceaseless aerial and! artillery bombardment of Tobruk, events else^ where in -Africa demonstrate the precarious hold Italy has on her rebellious empire. The Italians in East Africa axe now forced to use a new form, of blackmail in, order to stems the flow of deserters entering: the: British lines. Italian officers tell the Abyssinian conscripts that Italy will shortly be making peace with Britain: and; that, one: of the conditions of peace will" be an exchange of prisoners. The Abyssinians are told that if they desert they will be shot when: returned into Italian, hands. The Aden correspondent of "The Times" reports that an unhappy situation, exists? in: Jibuti, capital of French: Somaliland, where everything is rationed and trade is at a» complete standstill. The Italian secret police' have spent money lavishly in maintaining a swarm of informants; and' arrests of many respectable French and- other European citizens- at the^ instigations? of fthe Italians have, caused great indignation. INCIDENTS FREQUENT. { The residents of Jibuti, are wholer ijiheartedly united in their dislike of the (Italians, and incidents are frequently The Italians now wear* 'mufti in order to. escape the sneers, of ■the public. Four Italian- officers; have been taken to hospital suffering fraiq .knife wounds received- in- . wrangles oVer the resignation of General' Badbgli)o' and the Fascist war policy, which culminated in- a free fight. feeling; and? discontent, are reported to be strengthening among, all the. Italians in Abyssinia, as they arel fully appreciative of their perilous position; cut off Horn' helps from outsifle? and suironiidfed-By enemies* ihsidfc ami, outside the country. life is; learned; in- L-ondon- that the: EmpeHto Haile Selassie;, who is; in - Khactouim, for the last month; has: been receiving a constant stream; of Abyssinian, tribesmen, who- evaded the Italian frontier patnols.. They have had conferences, with their king and then, returned to their villages- with instructions and- arms..