NATIVE TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 22227, 3 January 1936, Page 7

NATIVE TROOPS

IN FOREFRONT OF BATTLE ITALIAN POLICY IN ABYSSINIA Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 1. In consonance with the earlier Italian policy of placing native levies in the forefront of battle General Graziani, appreciating the possibility of a weakness at the junction between Ras Desta’s and Ras Nasibu’s armies in Upper Webbe Shebeli, ordered General Olaldinle to direct his efforts against this point in order to break the Abyssinian liaison. Apparently his effort at Gabba on December SO was not decisive, his opponents withdrawing to a camp further eastwards. An Italian communique claims success in the Webbe Shebeli area—namely, occupation of Dauani, in Bawa Valley. Here again the work was done by native levies—namely, troops under Chief Hussein Haile, who recently submitted to the invaders. Danani stands at the junction of important roads, and in view of this it is strategically important to the Italians. The Italians estimate the enemy losses at 100 killed and 150 wounded and the Italian losses rather less. POSITION IN ITALY STEPS TAKEN TO MEET OIL EMBARGO. LONDON, January 2. The Rome correspondent of ‘ The Times’ says: “The newspapers are using the lull in political activity to reassure the Italian public and the outside world that Italy is perfectly content with the internal situation and the military position in Abyssinia. The forty-fifth day of the economic seige, it is claimed, finds Italy as united and determined as ever to pursue the present policy. All possible national and international steps, it is added, have been taken to meet the threat of an oil embargo if that ‘ false spectre ’ should assume concrete form.” 9 WAR RISK ON CARGO REDUCED LONDON, January 2. (Received January 3, at 1.30 a.m.) The war risk premium on cargo to and from the Mediterranean and the Red Sea has been reduced to 40 per cent, per £IOO. A SUDDEN ATTACK INTENSIVE MACHINE GUN FIRE. ADDIS ABABA, January 2. (Received January 3, at 2 a.m.) It is officially announced that two Swedish doctors were injured and that 30 Abyssinians were killed and 40 injured, including many ' patients, during the bombing of the Swedish Red Cross unit. It is confirmed that the ambulance was encamped at least a mile from the nearest troops and was surrounded by Red Cross flags. The .unexpectedness of the attack was increased by the fact that the Italian planes had previously flown over the ambulance without attacking it. All food, medicines, and two lorries were destroyed by intensive machine gun fire. MUSSOLINI DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF BOMBING BERLIN, January 2. (Received January 3, at 2 a.in.) The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper ‘Tidningen’ spoke to Signor Mussolini by telephone. II Duce denied knowledge of the bombing, saying; “If anything like that N had happened I should have been informed immediately.” He added: “1 am not opposed to Red Cross activities. I regret if a calamitous mistake has occurred.” A Stockholm message states that messages of sympathy and indignation from all over the world continue to pour in to the Swedish Red Cross headquarters, some of the comments comparing the outrage to the sinking of the Lusitania. BOMBING REPRISAL ITALIAN ADMISSION PRESS GIBE. ROME, January 2. (Received January 3, at 11.30 a.m.) The Italians admit the bombing of the Swedish Red Cross. A semi-official statement says: “The raid was a reprisal after the Abyssinians had beheaded captive Flight-lieutenant Minnitti. Accompanying the bomb was a message: ‘ You killed one of our airmen taken prisoner by cutting off his head, which was carried in triumph on the spear point to Harrar, against the laws of humanity, and the international convention which lays down that prisoners are sacred. You will get in return what you have deserved.’ During the bombing one fell on a tent of the Swedish Red Cross encampment, and it seems that two Swedes were wounded, and a number of Abyssinians killed and wounded. The bombing was on a very large scale.” The Italian Press, preparing to meet foreign outcry, insists that the Swedes were members of a Swedish military mission. The ‘ Giornale D’ltalia ’ asks whether in the face of Abyssinian war methods the worjd expects Italy to order its soldiers to put cork tips on their bayonets, and fill their bombs with Fan do Cologne. It adds ; “ Stockholm should tell us whether it desires our aviators, before proceeding with bombing operations, to lower a couple of men by parachute to ascertain whether any Swedish physician is in the neighbourhood.” \

NORWEGIAN COMMENTS OSLO, January 2. (Received January 3, at 11.30 a.m.) The Norwegian Foreign Minister declares that the bombing was contrary to everything called international law, and all civilised opinion must deplore such warfare. DOCTOR WOUNDED WHILE PERFORMING OPERATION ADDIS ABABA, January 2. (Received January 3, aj; 11.30 a.m.) Dr Hylander was wounded while actually performing an operation in the tent. SWEDISH GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST LONDON, January 2. (Received January 3, at noon.) Sweden has no representative at Addis Ababa. Her interests are watched by the British Minister, consequently the Swedish Government asked Sir Sydney Barton on its behalf to seek from the Ethiopian Government an official report of the bombing of the 'Red Cross unit. Sir Sidney Barton transmitted the request. FURTHER NOTE FROM ABYSSINIA LONDON, January 2. (Received January 3, at noon. A further Note from Abyssinia received at Geneva denies the use of dumdum bullets and repeats the charges against the Italians of burning churches and using poison gas. It proceeds that it is the Government’s duty to announce, if the Italian military authorities again employ such methods or commit other violations of the laws of war, that it will take reprisals, not by the infliction upon Italian soldiers of inhuman forms of treatment, which arc and will remain absolutely forbidden, blit by seizing the private property of Italian nationals resident in the territory of the Empire.