WAR MOVES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 5

WAR MOVES

ABYSSINIA ACTIVE Construction of Traps Along Lines of Italian Advance ARMS FACTORY RE-OPENED FOUR DAYS OF PRAYER ;Umt«U Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright! Received II a.m. to-day. LONDON, Aug. 22. '‘The Times” copyright message from Addis Ababa says that gloom is increasing among the foreign population. Merchants complain that there is no business and threaten their departure. Missionaries of all denominations have begun a four days’ prayer meeting on behalf of Ethiopia. The excitement over Baron Falconi’s injury, which proved to be of the slightest, exemplifies the mounting tension.

Abyssinians are digging pits like wild animal, traps, over which they have placed wooden, frameworks covered with turf and grass along the lines of the expected Italian advance. In the northern provinces many villages are constructing aeroplane traps. The long disused ammunition factory at Addis Ababa is being reconstructed. The greatest secrecy is being observed, and guards have been ordered to shoot anyone entering the precincts.

After yesterday’s British Cabinet meeting on the It a 10-Abyssinian dispute, it was understood that the Ministers remaining in London would keep in touch with Sir Samuel Hoare for consultation, and an informal meeting was held to-day at' No. 10 Downing Street, at which Mr Ramsay MacDonald, who is acting-Prime Minister in Sir Baldwin’s absence on holiday abroad, the Foreign Secretary, air Neville Chamberlain, Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell (First Lord of the Admiralty) and Lord Halifax were present.

DEVELOPMENTS NOT EXPECTED

No important developments in the situation are anticipated before the meeting of the League Council on September 4, though, as indicated yesterday, the British Government will pursue with the French Government the policy announced in Paris of seeking through diplomatic channels any opportunity to help t.he parties to dispute to solve their difficulties. The expectation in London is that Italy will attend the council meeting. Hope was expressed in- many quarters that she will then make a full statement of her case, and that the machinery of the League will be given a chance to operate to produce a fair and reasonable settlement without recourse to warlike measures. It is believed that the strong world opinion is behind the efforts to secure a peaceful solution, and it is not supposed that- the possibilities of conciliation, still open, will be set aside lightly bv any member of the League. VIEWS OF DOMINIONS. Tt is understood that Britain had not yet formally sought the Dominions’ views, but Sir Samuel Hoare is not likely to go to Geneva ignorant of their intentions. All the Dominions will be represented at the assembly’, but only Australia is represented on the council. For that reason Sir Samuel Hoare must be appraised of the extent to which he is empowered to speak for the others. Though the Cabinet has not considered whether the League can close the Suez Canal, experts believe that if sanctions wei'e enforced the treaty of 188 S compels the granting of all nations free passage in pea.ee or Avar.