Abyssinia

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 221, 17 September 1943, Page 3

Abyssinia

Abyssinia lias passed back into an independent sovereign State after six years under Italian rule. A few months ago. the Allied Nations, true to their promise, restored Emperor Haile Selassie to his throne after his long absence in England. Abyssinia, sometimes called by its ancient name, Ethiopia, was attacked by Italy on October 3rd, 1035, and after seven months of lighting was completely overrun by the highly mechanised forces of the Italian Army. On May 2nd, 1936, Haile Selassie fled from the capital, Addis Ababa, and seven days later Abyssinia was declared a part of the Italian colonial empire, with King Victor Emmanuel of Italy as Emperor. But this crown was not destined to stay in the hands of Italy’s King. When the present war broke out, the /'Hies made things difficult for Italy in Abyssinia. The supply route between Italy and North Africa was closed, and about the middle of last year (1942) British troops were aide to claim a complete victory and pave the way for Abyssinia’s return to independence. Abyssinia is a State of 350,000 sq. miles in the north-east corner of Africa, and its normal population is about .10,000,000. It is chiefly an agricultural and pastoral land, where cattle, sheep and goats are numerousThe horses of Abyssinia are small and hardy and make excellent polo ponies. Mules and donkeys are bred and used as pack animals. Cotton, sugarcane, date palms and coffee thrive in many districts, but coffee is the chief agricultural crop, including a wild coffee of which there is an unlimited supply. The native produce includes hides and skins, wax, barley, millet, wheat and tobacco. The forests abound in valuable trees, including rubber. Iron is found in some districts. Coal, copper and sulphur also have been found. The chief trade outlet is by the way of the Franco-Ethiopiun railway which runs from Addis Ababa, in the heart of Abyssinia to Jibuti, on the Gulf of Aden. This line was at one time controlled wholly by France, but in 1935 Italy secured some shares in it. While Italy controlled Abyssinia, good progress was made uith the development of railways and roads. Until recently the chief means of transport into the interior was by caravan, but these are gradually being replaced by motor transport as good roads aro built. Many of the towns in Abyssinia are mere clusters of mud huts inhabited by a few hundred people, but Addis Ababa, the capital, away in the centre of the mountaiuous country, is rapidly becoming westernised. It lias a modern railway station, shops and houses. There are telephones, telegraph and electric lighting, several good hotels and a few cinemas. The -town’s population is about 60,000 or 70.000.