Little Value in French Eyes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 123, 26 May 1936, Page 7

Little Value in French Eyes

Mussolini’s Assurance Regarding Djibouti Line

COLONIAL COMMUNICATIONS

THREATENED

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, May 25.

The Times’ Paris correspondent says ilmt Mussolini’s assurance that the Italian occupation of Abyssinia will not affect tho Djibouti railway, which shall continue to be used normally, has little value in l'rcnch eyes because it is not the railway but the future economic and political existence of Djibouti itself which is endangered.

Even tlio most rabid anti-sauctionists aro beginning to discover that Mussolini’s Abyssinian adventure concerns Franco more closely than ever and arc prepared to admit that tho Italian victory threatens French colonial communications, which cannot bo ignored as Djibouti is an important link between France, Indo.China and Madagascar. Moreover, its maintenance cost Franco nothing, as it lives on the Ethiopian trade. Thus any interference with it, either by Italian monopolisation or a prohibition of commercial relations between Abyssinia and sanctionist countries, must bo disastrous. Britisher’s Story of Official Brutality A FAKED CHARGE LONDON, May 2-1. Tho Foreign Ollico has received news of tho release of Warrant-Officer L. J. Bunncr, who ■was attached to tho British ambulance unit in Abyssinia and was arrested by tho Italians while lie was en route to Aden for treatment for rabies.

Ho is now at Jibuti undergoing treatment for rabies.

A Times’ correspondent at Jibuti, in a copyright message, says that Buuaor told a remarkable story of official brutality. Hu was passing his luggage through tho Customs at Dircdawa on May 15 preparatory to entraining, when he was told that tho police commandant doubted his identity. The Consul, Mr. Chapman Andrews, interviewed the Italian general on Bruunor’s behalf and returned to Harrar believing that all was well. Brunner was arrested as he was entering the train on May 10, and was cross-examined for three hours through an interpreter by a staff colonel, a staff captain, and an intelligence officer, Captain Lucctti, in the presence of squads of police. A ten-year-old Abyssiuiau boy denounced him as. Rudolf Brunner, au Austrian captain, and chief of the Abyssinian Intelligence Service, as if such an organisation was conceivable. Brunner's personal documents were examined. His passport had preceded him to Jibuti, but his Red Cross identification papers were given so little credence that rus passport would hardly have fared better. Captain Lucctti, putting au imaginary pistol to his own head, declared it was a matter of life or death, adding significantly, “To-morrow.” The tri-

LuuaJ refused to call in Mr Chapman Andrews, dee luring that ho was only Consul to Haile Selassie and no longer enjoyed diplomatic status. The remainder of the hearing was carried on iu Italian, and was not interpreted. Uuuncr was refused a bed or blankets, and was inarched to his prison, a small incinerator, sleeping on the floor. He was again interrogated on May 17, and the Times' correspondent informed the British authorities at Jibuti. Uuuncr left the incinerator at midnight ou May 18, and sealed a 20ft. wall while his guards were courting Ethiopian women. Uuuncr walked out of Uiredawa barefooted, since it was impossible to climb tho wall in boots, and ho tramped for three days through thorns along the railway lino towards Jibuti. For two days he was without water. He bought sandwiches from a SomaJ, but found further progress impossible, and returned to Uiredawa, where ho collapsed in a vomiting lit in a native hut, whose owner reported the presence of the sick foreigner to .the authorities.

Meanwhile Mr. Chapman Andrews was i: sibling on an inquiry, and Bunner was finally allowed to depart with cither Ked Cross workers, but his lilim and documents remain in the possession of tho Italians, whoso feeble attempt to pretend that Buuuer tried to smuggle dollars broko down when an either Et tho station admitted it was a deliberate fake.

Fascist Youth ADDRESSED BY MUSSOLINI. RELIED ON TO DEFEND THE EMPIRE ROME, May 24. Mussolini, on horseback for ninety minutes, watched a procession of Fascist youth, including girls, in celebration of the twenty-first anniversary of Italy’s entry into tile world war. The Duce in a brief speech said that Italy was relying on youth to defend the Empire. He added that they will be invincible.

March Past of Arab Boys ROME, May 24. A feature of Mussolini’s review of halillas, representing the Roman section in the ceremonies all over Italy, in which 831,399 boys and girls were drafted in a preliminary youth corps, was the Libyan baliila consisting of Arab boys, who marched past, amid 6hrieks of applause, their band playing “Facistta Nera” (little blackface), Italy’s Tipperary according to which “the sweetest gild I know,” lives in Addis Ababa.