ABYSSINIA

Evening Star, Issue 22192, 21 November 1935, Page 11

ABYSSINIA

DECISIVE BATTLE PROPHESIED COMPLETE VICTORY FOR EMPEROR | ’ Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright I LONDON, November 19. [ The 4 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Addis Ababa correspondent says; 44 Tho Emporor’s astrologers prophesy a decisive four days’ battle in December, ending in a complete Abyssinian victory, with Selassie leading the, onslaught. Advice from Harrar says Fitarauri Ayele, tho Emperor’s chief huntsman, counter-attacked the Italians between Analo and Gorahai, inflicting losses and recapturing positions, including Anale. The Harrar correspondent of 4 The Times ’ says: 41 The Ogaden field radio, after a week’s silence- spoke to Harrar from beyond Dagabur and announced that Ayele, with Waiziro Assageditch, wife of Habte Mikail, moved south and routed the Italian Somalis. Nasibu Wahib Pasha has arrived at Jijiga and is optimistic regarding Ogaden, where Dedjamatch Abebe’s troops number 60,000.” The 4 Daily Mail’s ’ Hargeisa correspondent says: “ Wahib Pasha later departed for the Sassabaneh battle area, insisting on taking a hand after the recent Abyssinian defeat at Hananleh.” The Exchange’s Harrar correspondent says: “ The assistant British attache, Captain Taylor, and tho consul, Mr Chapman Andrews, have left for Jijiga to confer with Nasibu and observe the latest phase of the Ogaden situation. Great reticence is being observed.”. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT SUBMISSION OF NATIVE CHIEF LONDON, November 19. The Rome correspondent of 4 The Times ’ says: “ A most important development is the submission of the Birru Sultanate to Italy, comprising a vast region of the Danakil Plain; the peaceful occupation of which will be most valuable in the projected Italian push from the Assab base to Dessye and to Aussa, where the local chiefs are likely favourably to receive the invaders preparatory to their farther advance southwards, simultaneously with General Graziani’s fresh push at Ogaden.” The 4 Daily Mail’s ’ Rome correspondent points out that the main object of early operations will be to effect a speedy union between Marshal Badoglio, who is moving southward, and General Graziani, who is moving northward,, which would place Signor Mussolini in a much better position to negotiate peace. RAIDING IN BRITISH TERRITORY LONDON, November 20. The 4 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Djibuti correspondent says native Italian irregulars are reported to be raiding British Somaliland for live stock. On one occasion they seized 800 camels, wounding several resisting tribesmen, who have ' strongly protested to the British authorities, demanding compensation. ENFORCEMENT OF SANCTIONS ITALIAN PRESS VERY BITTER LONDON, November 20. The 4 Daily Telegraph’s ’ diplomatic correspondent says: “ Private information from Rom© indicates that the Fascist Grand Council’s decision would have been far more positivo and sweeping but foi advice tendered to Signor Mussolini by Signor Grandi and General Balbo. There is good reason to believe that Signor Mussolini intended to take drastic retaliatory measures against the sanctionists, including the withdrawal of ambassadors, tho outcome of which must have been very dangerous. Fortunately wiser counsels advising againstclosing the door on all hopes of conciliation prevailed.” The 4 Morning Post’s ’ Rome correspondent says: “ As the Council has adjourned to December 18 it can be assumed that Signor Mussolini now intends to let economic, military, and diplomatic events take their course for at least a month before,committing the country to critical decisions which he feels he may bo forced to make. Meanwhile Italian newspapers continue bitterly and scathingly to denounce sanctions, especially Britain’s leading part. The 4 Tevere ’ even threatens war against sanctionists if they go too far, saying, 44 Sanctions are an act of economic war, and they can easily become an act of war pure and simple.’ ” Tho ‘News-Chronicle’s’ Rome correspondent says teachers have been ordered to din into school children’s minds' the “ injustice ” of sanctions. Children must learn by heart the names of sanctionists. AMERICA’S P&SITIOH QUESTION Oft OIL SHIPMENTS WASHINGTON, November 19. The peculiar silence of official circles with regard to the threat from Romo of a counter boycott of America if she followed tlie League in withholding exports of essential war materials should not be interpreted as Government, indifference in the matter. Rather it would appear that the matter is so serious that reticence is being maintained while the situation is being carefully considered. At a Press conference President Rosevelt’s only response Jo quee-

tions regarding the threat was ‘‘ Oh,, did they?” From other sources, however, it has been learned that pressure may be exerted on American companies to reduce oil shipments to Italy. It has been pointed out that the Government has a handy weapon to use, if it desires, as most of the shipping lines employing tankers receive Government subsidies. The final decision will probably depend on whether President Roosevelt and Mr Hull are pleased with the exporters’ efforts voluntarily to curtail trade with Italy. It is understood that during the past fortnight the trade in petroleum, .iron, etc., has slightly slackened. Nevertheless, some exporters appear determined to take the best advantage of a profitable market in wartime Italy. An example was afforded by a freighter leaving the Pacific coast to-day with several drums of aeroplane petroleum. She is reported to have received a direct warning from Washington that she was sailing under her own risk, and when the crew showed an inclination to heed the warning they were persuaded to serve by the granting of double wages. The American Federation of Labour announced that it was supporting the President’s policy. A statement by MiGreen intimated that shore workers and sailors might strike against the handling of war cargoes for Italy. BROADCASTS REFUSED LONDON, November 19. The 4 Daily Mail’s ’ Rome correspondent says the British Broadcasting Corporation-' refused an application from Marches© Marconi, who is going to London on November 22, to broadcast a 10-minute address throughout Britain giving the Italian viewpoint in the present controversy. The corporation explains that only the British Government and League officials are permitted to speak on this matter. A similar prohibition was extended to General Ezio Garibaldi, grandson of the Liberator, on a recent visit to London. ITALIAN PURCHASES Of GOLD A GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY ROME, November 19. An official decree creates a Government monopoly in purchases of gold from abroad in all forms. Gold manufacturers require a special permit for importation. Jewellers and citizens are forbidden to buy raw gold or secondhand gold articles. Auctioneers must not sell them, and pawnbrokers must hand over unredeemed gold pledges to the Government. EMPEROR ORDERS BRITISH AEROPLANES Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 20. (Received November- 21, at 10.35 a.m.) It is reported from Addis Ababa that Emperor Selassie has ordered four Percival Gull aeroplanes similar to that of Miss Jean Batten for communifcation work. REPLY TO ITALIAN NOTE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 20. (Received November 21, at noon.) The terms of the draft British reply to the Italian Note of protest against sanctions have been communicated for their information to the other Governments participating in sanctions, many of which had expressed a desire for information regarding' the lines of the British and French replies. It is understood that the texts of the replies will he published on Saturday morning. The British Note will be handed to Italy on Friday. ABYSSINIA’S STAND SUMMARY REJECTION OF ITALIAN NOTE GENEVA, November 20. (Received November 21, at 2 p.m.) The League has received tho Abyssinian reply to the Italian Note of November 11. It rejects “ with horror ” the Italian methods of 41 civilisation,” and repeats that the Ahyssinians will fight to the death, despite tho massacre of women and children. BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH FRENCH MINISTRY STILL ANXIOUS FOR PEACE, (British Official Wireleas.) RUGBY, November 20. ■ (Received November 21, at noon.) Mr Maurice Peterson, bead of the Abyssinian department in the Foreign Office, who several weeks ago visited Paris, had conversations with officials of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view to establishing technical details in the Abyssinian problem as a basis to which any proposals for settlement of tho Italo-Abyssinian conflict might be referred. He is returning to to-morrow to Paris to assist the British Ambassador (Sir George Clerk) in discussions with the French Government of various matters arising out of tbe Italo-Abyssinian dispute. It will bo recalled that at the time of Mr Peterson’s former visit no proposals which gave any prospect ’ of fulfilling the conditions which the British and French Governments consider essential—namely, that they shall be acceptable to the Ethiopian and Italian Governments and in consonance with the spirit of the League £!oy«nanW-

were forthcoming. While there are no grounds for supposing that such proposals are now available, the request made by the League Co-ordination Committee on November 2, that the French and British Governments should work in 'the name of the League for the re-establishment of peace, makes desirable a continuation of the technical survey of the problem. EMPEROR'S MYSTERY FLIGHT ITINERARY DELIBERATELY FAKED LONDON, November 20. (Received November 21, at 1.20 p.m.) The Addis Ababa correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says anxiety regarding the whereabouts of Emperor Selassie after his mysterious flight, is somewhat allayed by the report that he passed over Harrar in the direction of Dire Dawa. The Government deliberately issued conflicting reports of his itinerary in. order to reduce the risk of Italian pursuit. The Italian estimate of 5,000 dead Abyssinians as the result of the Antalo bombing raid is countered by Ras Seyoum’s assertion that the casualties were 10 killed and 30 wounded. It is locally suggested that the Italians mistook for corpses recumbent Abyssinians who, in accordance with orders, prostrated themselves when the planes appeared. The military correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ comments, that the Italians have the good fortune not to be aerially opposed, which saves them from something worse than congestion and internal disorganisation. SUCCESSFUL ABYSSINIAN ATTACK ADMITTED BY ITALIANS ASMARA, November 20. (Received November 21, at 2 p.m.) The Italians admit a successful Abyssinian night attack on a cavalry encampment near Hauzien on November IS, when there were heavy losses on both sides. Captain Rinaldi, the detachment commander, was killed. DECISIVE COUNTER MEASURE BLOCKING BRITISH BANK BALANCES LONDON, November 20. (Received November 21, at 2.30 p.m.) The ‘Daily Chronicle’ says that Italy’s most decisive counter-action is tho blocking of British, bank balances. The London banks are advised that all payments from lira accounts kept with their correspondents in Italy will be stopped until further notice. This means that British banks will be unable to dispose of their Italian funds. Some interpret this as the first move in a possible sequestration of British assess in Italy*

A SHORT ILLNESS LONDON, November 20. (Received November 21, at noon.) Lord Jelllicoe died at 6.30 p.m. in a London nursing home. Lady Jeilicoe and all the members of the family were present. Lord Jeilicoe attended the Armistice service. Next day he cut his hand badly with a splinter from a champagne bottle when he was naming an express locomotive “ British Legion.” On the 13th h© was ordered to bed for a chill. The first bulletin was issued on the 17th. It stated that his engagements had been cancelled for three weeks, and that on© lung was slightly affected. The daily bulletins reported progress up to the day of his death. During his illness his interest in the returned men , was unabated. From his bed on the 17th he jointly sent a letter to ‘ The Times ’ with Lord Allenby appealing to the public to buy disabled soldiers’ work then being exhibited in London. “ FIVE 808 " TO THE 6WD : JELLIGOE’S HUMOUR ■ ■ [Special to the ‘ Stak.’] WELLINGTON, November 21. Lord Jeilicoe rendered great service to the Dominion, not only as GovernorGeneral, but in his capacity as adviser to the Government on naval affairs. About a year prior to taking. office in the Dominion, he visited New Zealand during the course of a tour on behalf of- the Admiralty to prepare a report on the naval defence of the Pacific. It was on his recommendation, which Mr- Massey (Prime Minister) heartily approved, that the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy was established, the Dominion undertaking the maintenance of two D class cruisers of modern type. Lord Jeilicoe strongly stressed that they be manned by New Zealanders, any balance of complement being provided by the Mother Country, the training, to follow the British Navy practice so as to secure uniformity and efficiency in all details. It was also recommended that a New Zealand division of the Royal Naval Reserve be formed. All these proposals have operated satisfactorily for 'many years. Lord Jeilicoe, as Governor-General, was highly popular, because he had such a great capacity for friendly contact with officials and the general, public alike. Illustrating his sense of humour on public occasions, the story is told of his amusing adventure at a Rotary luncheon in Wellington when, being interested in the speaker of the day, he informally cam© along, stipulating firmly—no speech from the GovernorGeneral. But references to his presence prompted him to make acknowledgment, and at the end of his brief speech ho recalled his own prohibition and announced that as he had broken it, he would line himself a sovereign. But he could not find the money, nor could his aide; therefore, a number of guests passed half-crowns under the table to Lord Jeilicoe, who, receiving a large handful of silver, counted it out and placed a pound’s worth before the chairman, remarking: “ I got into here over that flue, but as you see it’s all right, and I am five bob to the good.”

POPULAR GOVERNOR-GENERAL LORD JELLICOE ACCLAIMED IN NEW ZEALAND TACTICS OF BATTLE OF JUTLAND HISTORY GIVES JELLICOE THE VERDICT Ear! Jellicoe will probably be best remembered in Now Zealand as one of T ■ most popular Govcrnors-General who ever came to this country, his gonial nature, unaffected bearing, and soundness of utterance endearing him

to all classes. His appointment was acclaimed on all sides, and there was widespread regret when the time came for. him to leave these shores. A typical representative of the British Navy, which has produced men who say and do the right thing at the right time, Lord Jeilicoe was an ideal representative of His Majesty the King in the dominion. Throughout the Empire and other parts of the world Lord Jeilicoe will mostly be remembered as one of the outstanding figures of the Great War as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet for several years—a position in which he probably carried a greater load of responsibility than any other British leader. Tim safety of Great Britain and the widely-scattered lands of the Empire depended more than anything else on the maintenance of sea power, without which the operations of the Allies on land would have been rendered impotent. It _ was a gigantic task, biit it was carried through successfully. The British losses and the result of the great naval battle of Jutland brought a prolonged and in some cases very bitter criticism of the tactics of the higher command in that action, but the verdict of that impartial referee —accurate history—seemed to give victory to Lord Jeilicoe. Consideration for officers and men under him always made Lord Jeilicoe most popular in the service, and no leader had a higher endowment of personal courage. His general policy, both strategy and tactics, was cautious, as he had to meet new and strange conditions created by the submarine and mine, and he had throughout the earlier period of his command at sea to grapple with many material defects, such as shortage of destroyers, unsatisfactory shells, and guns that were riot as good as those of the enemy. Tlie late Lord Jeilicoe was born at Southampton in December'. 1859. The son of J. H. Jeilicoe, of the,merchant marine, he was at Rottingdean, and entered the Navy in 1872, He became a lieutenant in 1880, served in the Egyptian War of 18S2, and in 1883 won the special £BO prize for gunnery lieutenants at the R.N.C., Greenwich. He was chief staff officer to Admiral Seymour, and commanded a mixed naval brigade in the expedition to relieve the legations at Peking in 1900, an' adventure in the course of which he was severely wounded. From 1902 till 1910 he was almost continuously serving at the Admiralty on shore, except for a short term afloat as second in command of the Atlantic Fleet in 1907-08. He was created a K.C.V.O. in 1907, in which year .he reached flag rank. From 1908-10 he was Third Sea Lord and Controller, being in charge of the construction of ships, under Sir John Fisher. He commanded the Atlantic fleet, 1910-11, and the second squadron of the Home Fleet. 1911-12, and then became Second Sea 'Lord. In the naval manmnvres of 1913 he commanded the Red Fleet. When war became inevitable be was Second Sea Lord and Viceadmiral in rank; ordered to Scapa, lie there received his appointment as Com-mander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, August 4,' 1914, which it had previously been arranged should be given to him in the event of war. He held that post till November, 1916, when he became First Sea Lord, having been promoted admiral in March, 1915. On October 30, 1914, Jelheoe drew up for the Admiralty a memorandum outlining the tactics which he would adopt to defeat the German employment of mines, submarines, aqd torpedoes. He would aim at figlmng m the north portion of the North Sea, and would assume, if the enemy battle fleet turned away, that- its intention was to lead him over mines and submarines, wlien 1m would refuse to_ be so drawn. He felt that such_ tactics, if not understood, “may bring odium upon me, and might ho deemed a refusal of battle.” This plan was approved by the Admiralty, and carried out at the Battle of Jutland. - Immense difficulties were overcome by Jeilicoe during his period of command. Scapa was defenceless and open to submarine attack, and the Grand Fleet at the outset was poorly supplied with destroyers ami colliers, and had no large preponderance in Dreadnoughts. Its organisation was carried to a high point of material efficiency, and constant sweeps wore executed to cover the cruiser forces watching the north entrance to the North Sen and blockading Germany. On May 30, 1910, Jeilicoe, with all the available Bhips of the Grand Fleet, put to soa under orders from the Admiralty* with

the knowledge that the German Fleet .was proceeding to the Skagerak next day; and on May 31, 1916, the Battle of Jutland was fought. The heavy British loss in the battle and its indecisive result caused some disappointment.; He explained after the battle that his ammunition was defective, and that his tactics were dominated by the wish to keep his battle fleet intact, because of its supreme importance for the victory of the Allies in the war. On November 28, 1916, Jellicoe handed over the command of the Grand Fleet to Sir David Beatty and proceeded to London to take up the office of First Sea Lord and organise measures against the German U-boat campaign. He rightly described this as the greatest danger that had ever menaced the British Empire; and it demanded extreme energy and the employment of many new weapons. In May, 1917, the Admiralty was reorganised into two divisions —operational staff work and material or administrative. In December, 1917, Jellicoe retired, being succeeded by Sir R. Wemyss, and in January, 1918, he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa. In August, 1919, he received the thanks of the nation and a grant of £50,000 for his war services. Promoted Admiral of the Fleet in 1919, he made a tour of the Empire in that year in connection with naval defence. He was appointed GovernorGeneral of New Zealand in September, 1920, and held that position till November, 1924. . . Publication of the official Jutland papers was not made till about ten years after the great battle, and it was made clear that, if this complete l reply to Earl Jellicoe’s critics had been known earlier, much unnecessary and irrelevant controversy been silenced. Rear-admiral J. t. T. Harper, C. 8., M.V.0., was the author of' the famous official Harper record of the Battle of Jutland, and it is of interest to note hero that this distinguished sailor was the first New Zealand-born officer to attain flag rank in the Royal Navy. His record was an exceptionally clear, honest, and closely-reasoned treatise of the greatest and most complicated naval engagement of all time in simple, non-technical language, and in a virile, outspoken style. In ms conclusion Admiral Harper says: To Jellicoe, therefore, must go the verdict *of that impartial referee— accurate history. As the misconceptions and misrepresentations which have surrounded the facts about Jutland are gradually, and we hope now finally, cleared away, and the success which was attained on the day when the whole issue of the Great War hung in the balance, is more generally recognised, credit will be given where credit is due.” Comment of the naval correspondent of the London ‘ Daily Telegraph after the issue of the official papers is much to the point. It states: — “ What the man in the street hoped to learn from the Jutland Papers was whether Jellicoe had lost an evident, precious, and not too hazardous chance of destroying the German fleet. Ail kinds of extraordinary rumours originated from the fact that Jellicoe at one stage made a ‘ turn away ’ from the enemy —though that is a very ordinary manoeuvre when a torpedo attack is launched. ■ What the man in the street now understands more clearly is that Jellicoe’s tactics at Jutland were according to a plan approved by the Admiralty; that if he had gambled on the destruction of the German fleet anything short of complete success would have been very costly; that the design of some of our battleships made them liable to blow themselves up and go to the bottom within a couple of minutes of being heavily hit; and that the German fleet after its Jutland victory retired hurriedly to harbour, and came out again only to surrender.” Further remarks from the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’of the period are;—“ When all is said and done Jutland remains the most decisive of all naval battles, because it ultimately brought about the complete destruction of the enemy’s fleet. ‘ Thank God,’ as Sir Reginald Bacon says, ‘ that Lord Jellicoe commanded our fleet in that historic battle!’ Whether that battle will enable us to determine our future naval policy—the thing that really matters—whether it shall he a policy of big fleets or flotillas of. destroyers, submarines, and aircraft, we do not know. Xlio Admiralty do not seem to have wavered in belief in capital ships, and tho Americans and Japanese entertain no doubt about that matter. They are building them as quickly as they can.” As a sportsman Lord Jellicoe earned wide popularity in' New' Zealand. A capable yachtsman, ho took a great interest in that sport, and he really inaugurated the class of boat with which contests for the Sanders Cup were sailed, Lord Jellicoe himself taking part in the first scries, of races in his Iron Duke. Those boats are still known as the Jellicoe class of boats. Lord Jellicoe married 1 in 1902 a daughter'of Sir Charles Cayzer, Bart., and ’had four daughters and a son, born April, 1918. He received the O.M. and tho 6.C.V.0. after Jutland, and held many orders. In 1919 lie published the 4 Grand Fleet, 1914-16,’ an account of its work under bis command, and in 1920 ‘ The Crisis of the Naval War,’ a record of the measures taken by him to defeat the submarines and of the changes at the Admiralty* i