Italian Troops Mutiny

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 8, 10 January 1936, Page 7

Italian Troops Mutiny

Pictures of Mussolini Bayoneted

KO DESIRE TO GO TO ABYSSINIA

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph.— uopyriKht. Received Thursday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jau. S.

Tho Daily Telegraph's Innsbruck correspondent says reliable information from Merano, in. the South lyrol, indicates that mutinous scenes attended the departure for Abyssinia of 50(1 soldiers of the Fifth Alpine Regiment. They noisily refused to leave their homo town and tore down, smashed and bayoneted pictures of Mussolini on the barrack walls.

The officers called on those willing to go to the front and only IS responded. The remainder threatened violence when they wero told they would bo entrained under escort. The officers fatally shot two with revolvers and severely wounded another. The men threw down their, equipment on the station platform, reviled Mussolini and cursed the war, after tho outbreak of which 1650 recruits are reported to have escaped across the frontiers in order to avoid service.

Many Officers Injured in Fight

Received Thursday, 9.55 p.m. MUNICH, Jau. 9,

The Official German News Agency states that the Merano mutiny occurred on December 26, and adds that, in the ensuing fight, many officers were seriously injured.

Inquiry Into Italian Atrocities

Asked

ALLEGATIONS BY ABYSSINIA Kcccived Thursday, 9.55 p.m. GENEVA, Jan. 9. Abyssinia’s request for a League inquiry into Italian atrocities declares that tho Italians are pursuing a definite policy of terrorism, and alleges that poison gas is being used against the Abyssinian troops on the northern front.

Abyssinia asks the Council to take immediate and energetic measures to end Italy's repeated violations of the laws of war and international conventions.

Occupied by Abyssinians

WHOLE or TEMBLEN PROVINCE. LONDON, Jan. 8. The correspondent of The Times at Addis Ababa states that tho Emperor announced that Kas Seyoum’s forces have occupied tho wliolo of the Icmbien Province. The Italians in the last encounter fled,' leaving a tank and lorry, and burning churches as they retreated.

Tho Italians claim to havo driven 2000 of Ras Mulugeta’s regulars off the northern slopes of Amba Aradam, twelve miles to the south of Makalc, by artillery bombardment.

Italian Morale at Low Ebb

PRISONER’S STORY.

DESS YE, Jan. 8

An Italian doctor, a mechanic, and a machine-gunner, attached to a tank corps, who were captured in recent lighting, arrived by air with solelcss shoes and tattered clothing. They declared they wished the war had never started.

The mechanic referred to the low ebb of Italian morale and extolled tho dauntless courage of the Abyssinians, whose lighting was a revelation.

Friendly Gesture

CHEERS POR BRITISH SHIP. NAPLES, Jan. 8. The arrival of the Oronsay coinciding with tho tjueen of Italy’s birthday, Captain Mathcson sent a wireless message to the agents to send phonograph records of the Italian National Anthem and the Fascist hymn “Giovinezza” aboard as the vessel entered port. Thcso were put over a loudspeaker as she berthed, producing the first cheers for a British ship in Naples for many months. Italy Developing Trade With South America Received Thursday, 9.115 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 9. -The Times’ Trieste correspondent says that the motor-ship Remo has been withdrawn from the Genoa-Aus-tralian line for a special voyage to South America, with which trade is growing as a result of the imposition of sanctions by various countries.

Premium of Peace

COLLECTIVE SECURITY WELL WORTH WHILE.

British Official Wireless,

RUGBY, Jan. 8,

Speaking at Cambridge last night, the First Lord of the Admiralty (Lord Monsell) discussed the proposal for • setting up a Ministry of Defence to cover all three services. He said he had at times been attracted by the idea but did not believe it was practicable to-day. The job was too big for any one man. Referring to collective security, Lord Monsell declared himself a supporter of it, but emphasised that action must be collective. ‘‘Everybody must not only be willing to play their part but the whole world must know that those whu arc in a scheme of collective

security will play their part,” he said. “If not, you get Tushed into action which is not collective action, but isolated danger. Further, we must not only have the will, but we must also, have the means to play our part. It is going to cost money,, but the premium is worth while —tremendously worth while —because it is the premium of peace.”

Sequel to Red Cross Attack

CROSS OF WAR CONFERRED ON DOCTORS ADDIS ABABA, January 8. Haile Selassie has conferred the Cross of War on Dr. Hylander and posthumously on Dr. Lundstrom. Red Cross circles are anxious for the safety of Dr. Agge, who was commanding a small Swedish Red Cross detachment which left the main unit a fortnight ago and is believed to have gone north east of Dolo. Baron von Rosen is making an aerial search. Rains continue throughout Abyssinia holding up operations.

Military Ceremony

ATTENDED BY KING OF ITALY AND MUSSOLINI. ROME, January S. For the first time in nine months the King of Italy and Mussolini have appeared together at a military ceremony, when the King presented two new regiments with standards.

British Navy

USUAL CRUISE IN ATLANTIC.

LONDON, January S.

The Admiralty in an official statement states that the H.M.S. Nelson, Rodney, Furious and the twenty-first destroyer flotilla will make the usual cruise in the Atlantic in January. Simultaneously, the H.M.S. Hood, Ramilles, Orion and Neptune will leave Gibraltar for home.

French Second Squadron CRUISE LIMITED TO AFRICAN PORTS. PARIS, January 8. The Admiralty asserts that the French Second Squadron is limiting its cruise in the Atlantic to African ports.

French Fleet’s Movements

REGARDED AS MANIFESTATION OF CO-OFERATION.

Received Thursday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8.

It is understood that the Homo Fleet’s cruise will bo in the Atlantic off the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Meanwhile, irrespective of whether the French fleet’s movements are intended to bo politically significant or otherwise, they are interpreted thus in London, where official quarters are gratified and regard them as a manifestation of co-operation. They point out that it is not so much tho destination of the French fleet that is noted with satisfaction as the fact that the French warships arc fully commissioned and will be cruising in the Mediterranean or a reasonable distance therefrom.