TOLL OF WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 64, 13 February 1936, Page 7

TOLL OF WAR

LOSSES AMONG ITALIANS. ESTIMATES AT VARIANCE. TEMBIEN DEATH ROLL. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received February 13, 10.30 a.m. ROME, Fob. 12. It is officially stated that 261 Askaris lost their lives in Eritrea and Somaliland in January, while 775 have been killed since October 3, when the war began. Of the 50,000 workmen ’ employed in East Africa, 278 had died between January 1, 1935, and January 1, 1936. Dessie officially denies the above war casualties, asserting that after the battle of Tembien the Abyssinian burying parties, interred 15,000 Italians and 4123 Askaris. It adds that 333 Askaris have deserted to the Abyssinians in the current week.

Ras Seyoum declares that he has started his own Caporetto Brigade with equipment from the slain in the Italian Caporetto Brigade, fitting them out with khaki shorts, • boots, and puttees, but not using the black shirts. A solitary Italian homber operating at AValdia missed the British Red Cross ambulance camp by 160 yards. DANGER OF REVOLT. FEELING IN ABYSSINIA. END NOT IN SIGHT. Received February 13, 10.50 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 12. The Sun-Herald Service says that rumours of internal disturbances in Abyssinia support the belief of English and French observers that the German militarists’ viewpoint that Italy is already beaten is premature. General Baratier, m an article in Le Temps, says the war is entering a new stage in which the battles will become more frequent before the rains, with unpredictable results. He asks: Will the Abyssinians grow tired of a prolonged conflict which is something new in their history? The Daily Mail’s Djibouti correspondent agrees that if the Italians prolong the war it will effect a complete disintegration of the country. There is no real central command and no real patriotism among the chiefs. Although lighting valiantly, their allegiance to the Emperor is waning as the Exchequer empties. The pay of the officials, teachers, and the Imperial Guard is already months in arrear. Peasants are starved to feed the army. A spark would ignite a revolt. ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. ANTI-BRITISH FEELING. ROME, Feb. 12. The Italian Press now openly associates the Italian death-roll in Abyssinia with British ammunition. The Tevere says: Every name in the list of our fallen has presupposed an English cartridge. Our grief is British profit. The English Colonel Holt can draw up his first balance-sheet of British affairs in Abyssinia—munitions supplied and gold pocketed—but the gold is stained with the blood of our brave youth. OIL SANCTIONS. CANADA’S REPUDIATION. LEAD AT GENEVA. Received February 13, 9.30 a.m. OTTAWA, Fob. 12. New information concerning Canada’s position regarding oil sanctions at Geneva was put before the House of Commons. Defending the Government’s action in repudiating the suggestion at Geneva that Canada was taking the lead in oil sanctions, the Premier said that last year Air Riddell, the Canadian representative on the Council, had no right to suggest or vote for sanctions without instructions. When Air Riddell had made the proposal to the League a cable already on the way directing him to take no stand had readied him too 'ate. “The full story of the incident is not yet told,” said the Premier. When it was, he believed it would be shown that the Government’s repudiation had averted war. All Europe might now be aflame had not the Government acted immediately.