NEWS AND NOTES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4810, 18 February 1936, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES

Claiming a brilliant initial victory in a grand-scale offensive carried out in spite of rain and hail storms in the northern sector, an Italian communique announces the launching of the greatest operation in the war is the opening up of the road to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, and it is stated that Italian carried out the stroke, with coloured troops only in reserve. The Abyssinians were estimated at 80,000, of whom 20,000 were put out of action, in addition to 30,000 who fled as soon as the fight began. The Italian losses were probably 400 dead and 500 wounded. -

The official text of the report of the committee of experts on the possible effectiveness of an embargo on oil supplies to Italy has been dispatched from Geneva to all the Governments. The appropriate Government Departments in London willundertake a careful examination of the report, but it is considered probable that the British representative at the meeting of the Committee of Eighteen will not be bound by any rigid instructions in regard to the matter. It is recognised that the report does not raise any further question of principle.;

Dispatches from Moscow state that the Soviet has suggested to the Japanese Ambassador the appointment of an International Commission to report on frontier incidents with a view to improving the relations between Russia and Japan.

"Le Matin" confirms a pending British short-term credit towards France, saying that £40,000,000 is involved. Interest will not exceed 3£ per cent.

Under military precautions resembling a state of civil war, Spain was polling on Saturday. • Nine thousand troops and police were posted at strategic pionts at Madrid before dawn, but this has not prevented two people being killed, and 10 wounded in gun fights in the early hours.

The "Manchester Guardian" Paris correspondent says the French know that continuance of a demilitarised Rhineland zone cannot ,be eternal, but strongly feel that the League or a firm Franco-British attitude must prevent its abolition during the immediate and decisive years. .

The outcome of Saturday's general election in West Australia is that the Labour Government's former majority of 10 has been reduced to three. The probable state of parties in the new House will be:— Labour, 26; Country Party, 13; National, 9; Independent, 1. One seat is doubtful.

The "Manchester Guardian" political correspondent says that whatever was the intention of Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech in the defence debate, it must injure Mr. Baldwin's prestige with his own party.

During an acrimonious discussion at the metropolitan conference of the New South Wales Labour party, an unsuccessful attempt was made to deprive Mr. J. T. Lang, leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, of his power of dictatorship over the caucus. These, it was claimed, recoiled against Labour at the general election, led to internal faction fights, and barred the way to complete unity with the Federal Labour party.

Greeted by a handful of cheering officials and many smiling relatives, the 1935-36 All Blacks arrived at Auckland by the Aorangi from Vancouver yesterday morning to complete a tour of high adventure and success on the playing fields of Great Britain, Ireland and Canada. They looked exceptionally fit, but with one voice, they said they were glad to be home.

"I am naturally very greatly pleased to hear such very sound views upon the defence of our great Empire," commented Captain Oliver Bevir, in command of H.M.S. Leith, at a reception at New Plymouth, after thanking the speakers for their welcome. "No one in the world can accuse the British Empire or any part of it of wishing for war, and it is generally accepted that the whole of the nation is for peace. But the only question is what is the best way of keeping peace? At the end of last century there existed the Pax Britannica, but since the last war the idea has grown that the easiest way to maintain peace is to be weak. I cannot help feeling that the world is more likely to remain at peace, if the nations which love peace are strong rather than weak, and many people who held different ideas are now coming round to that view."