TROOPS FOR ABYSSINIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 February 1935, Page 5

TROOPS FOR ABYSSINIA

ENTHUSIASM AT ROME REINFORCEMENTS FOR ERITREA (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ROME, 18th February. There were scenes of tremendous enthusiasm throughout the day at Rome when the 1911 class was called up. Parents and friends accompanied each batch of arrivals to the railway station. Mussolini informed the Fascist Grand Council that 70,000 Black Shirts volunteered for service in Africa, and also revealed that a Black Shirts battalion sailed from Naples on Ist instant and will reinforce the garrison at Eritrea. INADEQUATE PREPARATION CALL TO THE COLOURS MESSINA CROWDED MESSINA, 17th February. When thousands of young volunteers arrived in response to the call to the colours General Vacari, commanding officer at Messina, realised that rations and clothing were insufficient and telegraphed the War Office pointing out the unwisdom of crowding a seaport with troops before adequate preparation. Signor Mussolini’s reply, as War Minister, was to place General Vacari on the retired list. Nevertheless, the difficulty is unsolved. The youngsters are flocking in without uniforms and unequipped except for small bundles brought from home. They will ho drafted to Syracuse and Palermo before sailing. General Boscardi replaces General Vacari.

BRITAIN’S PART TO PROMOTE AMICABLE SETTLEMENT RUGBY, 18th February. In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon (Foreign Secretary) said the British Minister at Addis Ababa had from tlie beginning given his good offices to promote an amicable settlement of the present difficulties between Italy and Ethiopia. The Foreign Secretary added that he understood conversations had begun in Addis Ababa between the Italian Minister and the Ethiopian Government.