ITALIANS' SAVAGE REVENGE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 March 1937, Page 5

ITALIANS' SAVAGE REVENGE.

6000 NATIVES KILLED AT ADDIS ABABA. ,_ y Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) LONDON, March 2. The Paris correspondent of the Times reports that dreadful details of the Italian reprisals at Addis Ahaha after the attempted assassination of the Viceroy, General Graziani, are believed to be contained in reports now in the possession of the English and Drench Foreign Offices. It is reported that “the reprisals were carried out with savagery almost beyond description. For three days after the attempt every i*blebodied Italian in Addis Ababa appears to have been encouraged to slaughter natives to his heart’s content with any weapon suitable to his taste. The killed are estimated at 6000.”

An official communique issued in Rome on February 20 stated that after the distribution of gifts at churches and mosques at Addis Ababa a section of the crowd threw several hand grenades, slightly wounding Marshal GTtcziani and seriously wounding General Liotta and several others, including a native bishop of the Coptic Church.

EXAGGERATED REPORTS. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) ROME, March 3. “It is nobody’s business, except Italy’s,” was the Government spokesman’s comment on the Abyssinian massacres. He added that other Governments did not give information about the suppression of a colonial revolt, and they wouldn’t either. The reports are exaggerated. DEAD OVER ESTIMATED. SEVERITY OF ITALIAN REPRISALS (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. Official quarters confirm the severity of Italian reprisals at Addis Ababa, except in regard to 6000 dead, which is over estimated, though it was clear the civilising mission was carried out comprehensively. Fifteen inferior type bombs were thrown and several high officers, not mentioned by the Italians, were wounded, while many natives who are British subjects were arrested but released before the massacre commenced.