£10,000 INDEMNITY TO FRANCE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 2 March 1935, Page 5

£IO,OOO INDEMNITY TO FRANCE

ANNIHILATED TROOPS.

ABYSSINIA TRTBE’S RIATD.

(United Press Asaociatlrn —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.)

LONDON, Feb. 28

A Djibouti message says that Abyssinia ‘has paid France £IO,OOO indemnity on the Dikii annihilation, which occurred in French territory in Jannary, when a French administration officer, Albert Bernard, aged 25, 18 troopers and 88 Somalis were butchered by marauding tribesmen from the Abyssinian border provinces. Bernard’s family will receive £62oQ. Bernard, who had recently been appointed administrator in the Dikii district, was requested to assist the lssas tribe, which was raided by agelong enemies, the Assaimaras. The raiding party, numbering 800, moved while the Issas were moving their flocks. Bernard within three hours completed his preparations. With 16 Spaliis arul 88 friendly tribesmen, he marched to cut off the Assaimaras’ retreat. The force was sniped at all night while encamped. Bernard attacked in the morning and fought until his men’s ammunition was expended, when the tribesmen rushed in and massacred the survivors. Bernard was among the last to fall, covered with wounds, under the swords of the attackers. The Government posthumously awarded him the Cross of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his heroism and self-sacrifice.