CONQUERORS HARASSED

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 9

CONQUERORS HARASSED

ITALIANS IN ABYSSINIA NATIVE ATTACKS TO BE LAUNCHED IN RAINY SEASON Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright CAIRO, July 5. (Received July 6, at 11.35 a.m.) Thousands were recently arrested at Addis Ababa following concerted onslaughts upon Italian soldiers, a number of whose throats were cut by night. Others wore attacked at the Akaki aerodrome as they struggled under the wrecked tents. Many prisoners were subsequently released because the gaols were already full. Some were employed at forced labour and others were given the opporunity of enlisting. It is believed that the Italians intend to enrol 15 battalions, totalling 45,000 in the course of the year. Their garrisons are mostly confined to the towns and do not venture far into the interior Only a few fugitive chiefs have surrendered. The Abyssinians claim to have killed an Italian captain and 70 soldiers at Garamulata near Diredawa. Patriots of the western provinces declare that they will make a nation-wide effort in the worst week of the rainy season, but the Italians consider that they will be fully occupied with banditry and intertribal raiding, particularly in Ankober and Termaber, though they admit that complete pacification may take some years. Regular aeroplane services are suspended owing to the rains turning the aerodromes into quagmires and interfering with visibility, necessitating the use of the Djibuti railway, for which the French demand payment in foreign exchange, refusing Italian currency. .SELASSIE LEAVES FOR LONDON , GENEVA, July 5 (Received July 6, at 11.35 a.m.) Emperor Selassie has left for London.