IL DUCE MEETS HIS GENERALS

Northern Advocate, 8 February 1936, Page 5

IL DUCE MEETS HIS GENERALS

THE SITUATION AT HOME AND AT THE

FRONT

l United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright .] (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, February 6. TAESPATCHES FROM ROME STATE THAT SIGNOR MUSSOLINI TODAY ADDRESSED THE 92 GENERALS WHO FILL ITALIAN COMMANDS.

This is interpreted as portending the reorganisation of the home forces. Later, II Duce presided at a meeting of the Supreme Council of Defence. Various measures were decided upon for tightening up the restriction of imports and preventing the sale of luxuries.

Signor Mussolini is sending troops back to the Bremner Pass, according to a Rome message. The reason officially given is ‘the maintenance of the European situation ,and the retention of European friendship.” Certain members of the Fascist Grand Council, including General de Bono, are reported to be urging the necessity for a speedy compromise in respect to Abyssinia. Pope Intervenes Again.

Reports are circulating in Paris that the Pope has again intervened to secure peace.

“L’Oeuvre,” detailing a new compromise scheme, says that the Vatican is appealing to Paris and London to secure acceptance of a base for negotiations. "

It is understood the latest scheme contemplates neutralisation of Abyssinia with an international, not an Italian police force, and no provision for an Italian colonisation zone, but for the Emperor to permit Europeans to settle in the country.

At the Front.

It is emphasised in connection with the Abyssinians’ claim that they have encircled Makale, that Marshal Badoglio visited the city and was received by Ras Gugsa, local officials and Coptic clergy.

The Abyssinians are fulfilling their determination to send two soldiers to the front for every Italian shipped to East Africa. They are rushing troops to Ogaden to stem the Italian drive, which has been halted temporarily owing to rain. It is claimed that a camel corps ambushed and inflicted heavy casualties on Italians near Negelli.

Ras Desta’s followers hide in the daytime in well-provisioned caves, and sally out at night to harass the Italians’ lengthy communications, the vulnerability of which is causing anxiety.

Two New Zealand missionaries, Messrs. Roke and Mitchell, are escorting their wives to Addis Ababa, after leaving their stations at Sidano. Later they will return to their duties.

Oil Ban Issue.

A Geneva message says it is understood the sub-committee of experts decided ajn oil embargo against Italy would be effective in preventing the provision of substitutes which, however, were a negligible part of the supplies. Moreover, petrol consumption was only 15 per cent, of Italy’s total requirements, and it might be possible to replace a portion of it from alcohol and coal, but Italian plants were inadequate. Therefore, while the Albanian oil was of poor quality, the transport sub-committee was of the opinion that strict Interpretation of Article XVI. would prevent League members’ tankers trading with Italy, leaving available German, American and Japanese tankers, but the last-named were fully occupied.

Italy’s Reckless Charge.

The British Note denying Italy’s dum-dum bullet charge, stresses the well-known fact that anyone . can make an explosive bullet out of an ordinary bullet by making an incision in the nose, and the request is made that the document, which contains a detailed exposure of the reckless and unsubstantiated nature of the Italian allegations, shall be circulated to all members of the League.

The Note states thbt one Italian newspaper, on January 20, quoted a coded telegram from Addis Ababa, addressed to an Ethiopian agent in England, which, it is alleged, ordered ten million cartridges for rifles and for light and heavy machine-guns, with pointed bullets, -half of them to be clipped. The text of the message really read: “Half of them are to be in clips of five.” The Note adds that such distortions speak for themselves.

PROSPECTS OF OIL TRANSPORT BAN

(Received 2 p.m.) GENEVA, February 7

The Transport Sub-Committee reports that an embargo on oil transport would be ineffectual, because Italy has ample tankers to convey all the necessary oil from the United States. She can take from 1,750,000 to 2,000.000 tons a year compared with her normal requirements of 1,100,000 tens. /

The most px’actical embargo would be a prohibition of the sale of tankers to states which did not apply the embargo and. prevention of the movement of tankers to Italy.