IN AFRICA

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1936, Page 5

IN AFRICA

AT THE LEGATIONS

BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORTS.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, May 4

In the House of Commons, Hon. A. Eden (Foreign Secretary), referred to the situation in Addis -Ababa itself. “Attacks have been made on certain

foreign legations,” he said, “though not,, I understand, upon the British Legation,, and on foreign property,, and the business quarter of the town is said to be largely in .ruins. I regret to inform . the flousei that the "latest: reports from His Majesty’s Minister indicate ascertain number of casualties occurred among foreign residents, though so far as I am aware, only one British subject has been .injured. This is Doctor Melly.. In September, 'TZo, the Legation Guard was reinforced by a company of Indian Infantry for the express purpose of protecting the British community in.thq event of emergency. I am glad to think the pres-, ence of these troops almost certainly enabled a great many, lives, which might otherwise have been jeopardised ,or lost, to be saved. Members of the British community have continually, at great personal, risk, formed rescue parties to bring into the protection of . His Majesty's' Legation, tjje Europeans, regardless of nationality, from points of danger. I am sure tlie House wili agree that the greatest credit is due to the staff of His Majesty’s Legation, who have gone through; and, still are going through, a most anxious time, for tlie way in which, they handled a very difficult and trying situation, and above all to Sir. S Barton, whose conduct of affairs throughout, has been beyond all praise. • ~ : Messages from Addis Ababa received in London through the Foreign Office, owing to the closing of the Ethiopian Government Wireless station, give additional details of the disorders. A rescue patty from the British Legation, 1 which wenjt stio-. tlie; Legation’‘s ; relief, found five dead before the Legation, whose <staffi 'wafe=. evacuated and brought to < the - British• Legation com? pound. L.. w * - r L ttU.GX . jin, _Two thousand i * refugees 1 , • belonging to twenty-three.;nationalities, are reported to, he 3 Sheltering atnthe British - Legation. Many.'* arrived; entirely destitute. The* misery iwasiincreased by the hfavy .rains., r ! ihr,.’. v-Mi-G >!

Doctor Melly, whd'W.W in criarge"of a British ambulance, ‘yesterday'reached the British Legation. (He stood the journey tonthe; Legation Will, and although his- wound is reported to be responding to treatment, • his condition will continue ; to be'critical for some days. The-British ambillande dollectecl and tended over'3oo-Ethiopian wounded. lrd-io ■■■>' .111'.:-'-: I'j ' W,' -.Cm '•••1C -‘.t >1 • .Wt'. ■ tfoSih NATIONALS. s : 1 ASSISTED BY BRITISH. \ , 'WASHINGTON,' May 4 / The State'Department, late to-night’ announced.- • “Owing to there being a critical situation: at‘Addis Ababa, the British Minster there' lias been finable to spare any detachment of Sikhs to assist in the defence - of the American Legation. However, the British Foreign Office has offered to telegraph its Minister, Mr Barton, to send a convoy to evacuate: the Legation.

APPEAL FOR AID

STILL UNDER FIRE

WASHINGTON, May 4. >

Althoughjffbey are only separated by a few city squares; the American Legation in Addis Ababa was to-day compelled to send an appeal fonaid to the British Legation via wireless to Washington, thence by telephone to the British Foreign; Office at; London, and thence to Mr Barton (British Minister at Addis Ababa).

■ / There is a temporary lapse in the radio Somunication* between • London ' end the British .Legation in the Ethiopian Capital. This, however, has delayed the American Minister, Mr Engert’s appeal for, a Lewis, gun and a few Sikhs to heln to repel the ban-

dits who have beleaguered the U.S.A. (Legation arid have seriously wounded two servants. Bullets narrowly missed Airs Engert. Efforts to send messages to the British Legation by a runner failed. Afeanlime. the American buildipg has been under intermittent fire. President Roosevelt been great]v concerned about the situation. The .State Department was, somewhat relieved by the British Foreign Office assurances that aid from Mr Barton would be available as soon, -as radio communication could be re-established.

RELIEF-: FELT

WASHINGTON, May 4 Some relief had been -felt with the receipt of news from London that the British Foreign Office nacT advised Mr (Barton ("British Minister at Addis Ababa) late to-day that a truck load Of Sikh troons had been sent to the relief of the American (Legation. ' r Nevertheless a Tries save was rerntrrprl fo-n’" l ' + the American; Minister, Mr Engart,-as follows: — “The British Legation is unable to p-mu +e'ieh with us, but we feel confident that we can at least hold out until to-morrow.