SANCTIONS DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1935, Page 7

SANCTIONS DAY

FASCIST COUNCIL MESSAGE “A VAIN ATTEMPT” [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Reed. Nov. 18, 11 a.m.). ROME, November 17. “Sanctions Day (November 18) shall be regarded throughout Italy as a day of ignominy and iniquity in the history of the world.” This is among the declarations of the Fascist Grand Council, with Mussolini presiding, which are embodied in a communique issued this morning. The Council denounced Sanctions “which have never before been applied” as a proposal to suffocate the Italian people economically, and as a vain attempt to humiliate them, and prevent a realisation of their ideal. It urged the Italians to display flags outside their homes for 24 hours to-mor-row.

The council decided to convoke 94 provincial committees of mothers and widows of men who fell in the Great War, in order to co-ordinate and intensify the national resistance; It. has ordered tablets recording “siege” to be placed on walls of town halls throughout the country, so future generations will be reminded of the injustice perpetrated against Italy. The Council expressed sympathy with those countries, which by refusing to impose Sanctions, helped the cause of peacei It sent a message of congratulation to De Bono and the army in East Africa, acclaimed the Duce, and affirmed that the Italian people were ready to face any sacrifice to reach their goal. BRITISH ACTION. LONDON, November 17. The “News-Chronicle’s” Geneva correspondent says: “Britain has notified the League she is taking steps to prevent Italian goods from entering England, disguised as products of other countries. What may be described as personal Sanctions, were applied in a codicil to the will of Mrs Jane Beik, of Grassmere, she leaving £120,180. The codicil revokes power of. appointment to her son-in-law, Colonel Eduardo Benfratello, in consequence of the “recent unfriendly attitude of the Italian Government, as testified by violent abuse in the Italian press.”

ITALIAN CAMOUFLAGE.

LONDON, November 16

The “Daily Telegraph’s” Aden correspondent says: The Italians are trying to organise a camouflaged supply system, through native agencies, extending from Egypt to North West India, whereby, despite League vigilance, the Sanctions may be evaded, transhipping goods at Mukalla, on the Hadramaut coast of Arabia, for passage across the Gulf of Aden to Italian Somaliland. U.S.A. SUPPLIERS WARNED. WASHINGTON, November 16. Senator Hull with the approval of President Roosevelt to-day issued another broadcast against American traffic in essential war materials to the Italian and Ethiopian belligerents. This appears to confirm reports that despite the Administration’s pleas and warnings in U.S.A., _ the trade boom with Italy is continuing. The trade figures for October which in the normal course of events would be published on Monday, will not be issued until several days later, this giving rise to the speculation that the Government, prefers not to have the large AmeHcan sales of petroleum, copper, scrap iron and cotton to Italy, publicly revealed on the very day that the League Sanctions become effective against Italy as an aggressor. Of course, Mr Hull is issuing a warning against sales to either belligerent, but, as U.S.A, commerce with Ethiopia is practically non-existent, it is clearly an effort to halt the traffic with Italy. Mr Hull’s statement in the strongest terms directly accused the American exporters of violating the spirit of the Neutrality Act saying: “The American people are entitled to know that there are certain commodities such as oil, copper, trucks, tractors, scrap iron and steel, which are essential war materials, although they are not actually arms, ammunition or implements of war, upon which a formal embargo is placed. This class of trade is directly contrary to the policy of the Government and contrary to the spirit of the Neutrality Act.” . It is noted that in a series of his statements this is the first time Mr Hull has specifically named commodities of vital need to Italy that the administration prefers should not be exported. LONDON, November 16. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says: Senator. Hulls new statement warning American exporters against trading with the bel.ieerents' is welcomed in London, where it is believed it will almost certainly lead to the imposition . ot further League Sanctions against Italy. MILITARY OPERATIONS DE BONO RECALLED.

ROME, November 17. Signor Mussolini has recalled General de Bono. He has appointed General Badogho as Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in East Africa.

General de Bono is 69 years of age. He has recently been feeling the strain of .the campaign. Signor Mussolini cabled him as follows:—“With the re-conquest of Makale, you have completed the mission entrusted to you with results marking you for the nation’s, gratitude. The King lias promoted you to Marshal.’’ Foreign circles here regard the appointment of General Badoglio as an indication that Signor Mussolini is convinced that the European situation is not likely to produce any trouble and also a sign of a lessening ot Italian uneasiness regarding the British naval concentration in the Mediterranean Sea. Otherwise, Signor Mussolini would have considered General Badoglio’s presence in Italy as indispensable. General Badoglio fought in the Adowa campaign (40 years ago) as a lieutenant. TOO SLOW PROGRESS. LONDON, November 16. The British United Press Rome correspondent says:—General Badoglio’s

appointment, is attributed to Signor Mussolini being impatient at General de Bono’s slow and methodical proigress. According "to the original schedule, the Northern Army should have penetrated' much deeper' into Abyssinia in order to support, the advance of General Graziani, who is now in danger of being cut off. The opinion is also expressed that General de Bono failed regarding the desertion of the Abyssinian chieftains, by which it was hoped to secure control of Tigre province, but /spent huge sums without the desired” result. Consequently, Signor Mussolini having given his old friend the honour of avenging Adowa, and of occupying Aksunr and Makale, has decided that the time is ripe to speed' up the operation.

Experts also believe that a speedier campaign is advisable, owing to the heavy strain imposed on the Italian treasury. Moreover, it. is essential to occupy as much territory as possible, before Sanctions become effective.

ITALIAN ADMISSIONS

LONDON, November 16.

“The Times’s” Rome correspondent says: Italian bulletins admit that the Abyssinans are severely harassing the Italian front at Makale. Italian air observers report a daily increase in the enemy strength in the Amba Alagzene, the defenders moving nocturnally in small groups. Men with heavy laden mules were seen converging on Amba Alagi, Antalo Buia, whereupon th.b Italian headquarters despatched ten bombers, which for two hours rained down bombs. Antalo Buia is now smashed, but the population had been evacuated' Wy Abyssinian soldiers. The bombers went on to Amba Alagi, machine-gunning en route the terror-stricken groups of native warriors.

LABOURERS DISCONTENTED.

ASMARA, November 16.

Unrest is reported among thousands of Italian labourers engaged in roadmaking and other tasks behind the Italian lines. A local paper, the “Quotidian) Eritreo,” admits that many are clamouring to be sent home, declaring the discipline is too severe.”

RAINS HINDER INVASION.

ADDIS ABABA, November 16.

General de Bono’s recall has pleased official circles, which express the opinion that it proves that the Italians are dissatisfied with their progress. \ Torrential rain has been assisting the Abyssinians to delay the Italians’ advance up the river Fafan, dozens of tanks having been bogged, and malarial cases increasing. ABYSSINIAN STAND. A ASMARA, November 16. The Emperor is reported to have ordered Ras Kassa, and Ras Mulugeta to make a strong stand on. a defensive line from Am-ba and Alagi, which is heavily fortified. IRREGULARS KEPT BUSY. (Recd. Noy. 18, 1 p.m.). LONDON, November 17. Guerilla warfare continues in the northern sector, where the Italian irregulars are executing a pincers movement in the Takazze region, in order to meet the Askari column of the right wing of Maravigna’s second army, which is operating on the Maiwera River, a tributary of. the Takazze, in the hope of entrapping enemy bands. The Italians’ scouting parties on the south bank of the Takazze made contact with an Abyssinian detachment, which escaped through dhurra fields, leaving two dead and two prisoners. Maravigna’s Askaris surprised the Abyssinians under Fitaurari Bitan, in the Maiwera Valley, between Askum and Makale. These were fugitives from Gheralta, where the Italians are mopping up scattered bodies of defenders. Those Abyssinians who did not escape after two hours’ desperate resistance, surrendered, including Bitan, the first chief captured since the outbreak of hostilities.

EX-AMBASSADOR’S POST. (Recd. Nov. 18, 10 a.m.). DJIBOUTI, November 17. Count Vinci has left for Mogadiscio, to take up a captain’s command in the Italian forces. AMERICANS ATTACKED. ROME, November 17. Four Americans, who as the Manhattan String Quartette, were due to play in a Philharmonic Concert at Rome, were assaulted and given black eyes, in a street. Some Fascists reproached them for laughing and joking while the funeral procession of a Fascist was passing. One of the Americans replied: We only • speak English and did not notice the procession. Their engagements have been cancelled, and they have left for Paris. OCTOGENARIAN’S OFFER. - ROME, November 17. Louis A. Nesbitt, father of Louis Mariano Nesbitt, killed in the flying hotel disaster in Switzerland, on July 20, sent a letter to Mussolini: “With profound homage—because I am perhaps the oldest British citizen of Rome and perhaps of all Italy, (I am eighty-two), and as father of the explorer, Nesbitt, and because my three sons all fought in the Great War, binding Italy and England in’brotherhood, to save France and European civilisation, and because my daughter worked with the Italian Red Cross from the first day of the -war until a year after the Armistice, and because my son, Alexander, participated in the march on Rome, I hold it a duty these days, sacred to the destiny of Italy, to declare that I am ready to set out for Rast Africa. 1 could serve, everything else failing, in the Red Cross. Many of my fellow citizens in Italy, think and feel as I do.”