WARLIKE RACE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1935, Page 6

WARLIKE RACE

COMMENT ON ABYSSIAXS LONDON, August L, “W arriors bv trade, the Abyssinians are a proud and warlike people. They rely on shock tactics, the only word pf command being: ‘Have at ’em and God be with you.’ •” This statement was made by Lord Stonehaven, it former Governor-General of Australia, in a special interview with a representative of tiie “Sunday Sun.” He recalled his experiences in Abyssinia, a country which so charmed him that he visited it on three occasions and spent it camping honeymoon there. Lord Stonehaven went tc Midis Ababa with camels and nudes as first secretary to the diplomatic service and camped, while the Legation was being built, in native tents. He describes the Abyssinian troops as being wonderfully active among the lulls. Lord Stonehaven accompanied an Abyssinian army of 7000 men, marching against rival tribes when the old feudal system prevailed. Priests ordered every man to assemble with rifle and ammunition, and every movement was performed rapidly and in an orderly manner without orders being given. The chief’s .tent was erected on a high position, indicating where every man should go. Immediately the chief furled his tent others followed suit, cue whole army remarching within an hour. Priests addressed the tribes, saying: “We are in hostile country. You will meet the enemy to-morrow.” Women and children were then left behind, and the warriors marched to. battle.

SOMALILAND ITALIANS FETED ADDIS ABABA, ulv 31. An interesting situation -r. has developed at, Jibuti, the port and railhead in French Somaliland. The Italian flagship, the Bari, is there, and has been warmly feted. On July 14, a parade was held, the naval commander and his contingent being given marked prominence. The Abyssinian Consul was absent.

The sympathies of the white community at Jibuti generally are proitalian, and are influenced by the feeling that white should support white against black, and that, in any case, France needs Italian friendship. The British Zeila proposal is considered unfriendly and detrimental to the interests of Jibuti and contrary to the spirit of the tripartite agreement. Somali sympathies, although fickle, are predominantly with Abyssinia, especially in British Somaliland. They are not. influenced --.specially by Abys-:siniou-:.propaganda, bgt perhaps, by the .feeling.-, that. Itananj ; administration vW’ould be anti-native and that under white protectorates the Somalis would have little social and political future. The do not resent the. proprosal to cede Zeila to Abyssinia, as they realise that this would restore the prosperity to Zeila which Jubuti has filched. Questions of territorial sove-reignty-are- not important with" the nomad Somalis.

Reports are persistent in Jibuti of difficulties in rationing and watering the troops in the Italian colonies. At Tibuti a steamer loaded water for Assab.