Will Not Discuss Peace

Northern Advocate, 19 October 1935, Page 9

Will Not Discuss Peace

Until Invaders Withdraw

Spectacular Assemblies Addressed by Rival Leaders

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y Electric Telegraph. — Copyright.] :1 10 a.m.)

LONDON,. October 17, the frontier between Somaliland gri Ogaden suffered casualties from gas and bombing raids, according to tribesmen’s reports to the British commissioner at* Zeila. , . , The Italian Consul at Djibouti and the spokesman for Rome deny the violation of British territory or injuries to the Camel Corps. They .emphasise that Italy "is doing her utmost not to antagonise British interest in Africa.

TAESPATCHES from Addis Ababa state that warlike operations are limited to Italian aerial reconnaissance on the Tigre front. The advance into" Ogaden is being held up by further rain. The leaders of the rival forces were occupied today in reviewing and addressing their troops. General de Bono, the Italian Commander-in-Chief, installed the Emperor’s son-in-law, Degiac Gugsa, who surrendered with his followers on October 12, as Governor of .Tigre, in the name of King Emanuel. The Emperor’s review reflected barbaric enthusiasm. Nearly 100,000 warriors, the majority of whom arrived from the hinterland, assembled on the way to the various fronts. The troops marched on a dusty, open space before Parliament House, Addis Ababa, where sat the Emperor on a golden throne. Warfare Fervour. The chieftains, surrounded by war banners emblazoned with St. George and the Dragon,' led hordes of warriors, whose spears and swords glinted in the sun, but the absence of modern rifles and the scarcity of ammunition in the warriors’ cartridge belts were ■ especially noticeable. Whole tribes, leaping and dancing in excessive fervour, sang war songs, such as “We die for you, we sons of the lions, born for war!” “We will shatter the invaders and cast their bodies to the Vultures!” Haile Selassie, in an address to the assembly, reiterated the necessity for guerilla tactics, and for patience in awaiting the Italian advance. He urged his followers: “Forward to war! Fight bravely!” In the meanwhile General de Bono, at Adigrat, watched a march of Italian troops. Gugsa’s warriors took up a post in the centre of the square. “God On Italy’s Side.” General •de Bono announced that Gugsa had been nominated a chief as a recompense for his fidelity. He said that Gugsa’s followers must try to win over the whole population of the Tigre now that a descendant of King John had become its head. The Italian commander assured his. hearers that their customs and religion would be respected. The surrender of Aksum, he said, was a sign that God was fighting on Italy’s side. A later message says it is reported in Addis Ababa that Mussolini is displeased with General de Bono, oh account of the slowness of the advance of the Italian forces. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Addis Ababa correspondent says the Emperor announces that he will not discuss peach while a single Italian soldier remains on his so ( il. Sir Percival Phillips, cabling to the “Daily Telegraph” from Djibouti, French Somaliland, says members of the British Camel Corps stationed on

“War Has Not Even Begun.”

’ Dr. Hawarati, ; Abyssinia’s most skilled general, who has been representing his country at the League of Nations, before sailing for Djibouti from Marseilles, echoed the Emperor Haile Selassie’s defiant message to the League; “The war hds not even be-r gun.” • i ■ ! : Messages from Rome and Addis Ababa suggest that this is much -more truthful than Italian diplomatic propaganda, inasmuch as Rome guardedly admits that Marshal Badoglio, who piay yet supersede General De Bono, anticipates a powerful Abyssinian offensive upon Adowa. He bases this conclusion upon. the theory that the defenders are grimly awaiting the inevitable extension of the Italian front, involving lengthening of the . lines of communication from the base, before the invaders can launch their offensive. The comments of Major C. A. Temperley, of .the “Daily Telegraph,” suggest that the ease of their offensive has aroused the suspicions, if not the misgivings, of the Italians. ■