“Wholesale Murder”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 6 January 1936, Page 5

“Wholesale Murder”

BOMBING OF SWEDISH RED CROSS TERRIBLE SCENE OF CARNAGE DOCTOR’S GRAPHIC ACCOUNT (United Press Association—by Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 6th December, 10.30 a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, sth December. An aeroplane brought from Dolo Dr. Hylander and his assistant Dr. Lundstrom, and many of those wounded in the air raid on the Swedish Red Cross ambulance. Dr. Lundstrom was severely wounded and died en route to hospital. The transport of the wounded from Dolo was a wonderful feat on the part of the Swedish Baron Von Rosen, who piloted the Fokker ambulance ’plane over unknown and difficult country. Dr. Hylander gave a graphic account of the bombing. “It was an utterly deliberate act. The Italians for several days previously machine-gunned all round the ambulance. I was in the operating tent on the morning of the bombing. Suddenly a perfect tornado of bombs and bullets rained down. I had just time to see two lines of three ’planes each enfilading the ambulance when I was wounded and lost consciousness. When I awoke it was to see the most terrible scene of carnage imaginable. Scores of dead, dying and wounded were around me and I heard shrieks and groans amid the crackle of blazing tents. There must have been more than two hundred bombs, and thousands of rounds fired from the machine-guns. Dr. Lundstrom though severely wounded kept crying, ’I must attend to the wounded. Ras Desta’s men rushed up immediately and began the transport of the wounded to cover. “There was absolutely no excuse for the raid. Red Cross emblems were prominently displayed. The Italian allegation that Abyssinian chiefs and soldiers were taking refuge in the ambulance is completely baseless. “My assistants say that the Italians flew very low knowing they were immune from fire from us. There was no place for the staff and patients to shelter. We had no guns and could only wave white flags. It was wholesale murder. Beds containing the wounded were blown thirty feet in the air and two patients on the operating table were killed instantaneously. Many wounded were half-buried by earth and stones. Dr. Lundstrom had part of his face blown away. “After the bombing, in which two" ambulances were blown up, the aeroplanes circled and returned with the machine-gun unit.’’

ANOTHER BOMBING? EGYPTIAN RED CROSS UNIT A DAGABUR REPORT HARAR, sth December. Italian aeroplanes are reported to have bombed the Egyptian Red Cross unit at Dagabur, more than a mile from troop encampments. It is not known whether there are any casualties. English missionaries, Dr. David Stokes and Dr. H. Dawkins, are attached to the Egyptian Red Cross unit. Six Italian aeroplanes heavily bombed Ambabircuta, in Wolkait district without casualty. An official communique says that ten thousand bombs, including gas bombs, were dropped in Makalle sector last week. The casualties were small. “TIMELY RAIDS” ASMARA, stli December. The Italians admit the loss of a ’plane with a crew of two in Kafta region, but declare that this and other raids were successful and timely, as they dispersed several large concentrations of Abyssinians preparing to attack the extreme right flank of the Italians. convertedTtTtransport AN ATLANTIC STEAMER OTHERS TO FOLLOW (Received Oth December, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, sth December. The Atlantic steamer Scythia has been converted into a transport to carry troops, tanks and armaments to Alexandria. She will sail from Southampton on Wednesday under War Office orders, says the “Sunday Dispatch.” This is the first requisition of a passenger liner since the Great War. It is believed that other ships will be requisitioned shortly. ras”gugsa ARREST UNOFFICIALLY REPORTED LONDON, 4th December. The “Sun-Heralcl” says it is unofficially reported from Rome that Ras Gugsa has been arrested and imprisoned in Tigre allegedly for organising a revolt behind the Italian lines, and that a number of Abyssinians, presumably chieftains, were executed on a charge of assisting Gugsa. The authorities at Rome subsequently stated that nothing was known of the matter.

A revolt against the continuance of the war occurred at Romagna but it is reported to have been suppressed. A message from Dcssye says that more Askari officers and soldiers have deserted to the Abyssinians. Eleven Greek officers are going to Abyssinia to man tanks captured from the Italians. The “Sun-Herald” adds that Rome is obviously not concerned about the lack of progress. It seems that the harsher phase is rapidly approaching. haltedlnvasion INITIATIVE PASSES TO ETHIOPIANS EFFECTIVE EXPLOITATION LONDON, 3rd January. • “The Times” in a leader, says: “Long before Signor Mussolini announced the “indispensable pauses,” it was clear that the invasion of Abyssinia was halted, and an effective resumption of it may not even be in prospect. The initiative has passed to the Abyssinians, who have effectively exploited it. Something ominously significant to the. Italians may be oceuring, as is indicated by the outflanking of their advanced posts at Maitimchet, compelling them to withdraw nearer their base. Apparently the Abyssinians have captured Adcli

Abbi, but the Italians have halted the enemy’s further advances. “The Abyssinian tactics in imposing the longest possible passive defence on the enemy recalls Lawrence of Arabia’s methods, for which Nature provides the requisite space in Abyssinia. The more the Abyssinians distribute their efforts without over-committing themselves at any one point, the more they can effectively utilise their mobility and surprise, spreading a debilitating inflammation throughout the Italian system. “Their aircraft have enabled the invaders to meet many ominous Abyssinian leads to avoid the collapse ever awaiting those whose forces are strung but and whose nerves are strung up.” The “Daily Mail’s” Rome correspondent says that General Graziani’s army is being increased to 75,000 men and a full division is leaving Libya for Somaliland. Two thousand Black Shirts have left Naples to complete a division at Mogadiscio. FIRST WOMAN DOCTOR SERVICE WITH RED CROSS ADDIS ABABA, 3rd January. Doctor Harriet Skomp, of the Sudan Interior Mission, an American, will be the first woman doctor at the front. She wil.l serve in the Abyssinian Red Cross with the permission of the Emperor Selassie. IMPARTIALINQUIRY INTO CONDUCT OF WARREQUESTED BY ABYSSINIA GENEVA, 4th January. Citing alleged Italian atrocities the Abyssinian Government has requested an impartial inquiry into the conduct of the war. It suggests that the Committee of Thirteen is a competent authority to carry out the investigation, which should be prompt in order to “prevent atrocities which will have incalculable consequences for the whole African continent and will prove an insurmountable obstacle to the restoration of peace in East Africa.” TO END OF YEAR EAST AFRICAN FORCES (Received 6th January, 1.50 p.m.) ROME, sth January. It is officially announced that Italian casualties to 3ist December in the East African military forces were 390 dead snd 14 missing, while of 61,000 workers 259 have died and 11,338 have been repatriated for health reasons or because of contracts terminated. OIL EMBARGO APPARENTLY BROUGHT NEARER LEAGUE CIRCLES IMPRESSED GENEVA, 4lh January. League circles are impressed with President Roosevelt’s sharp criticism of autocratic forms of government. Though it is realised that his reference to neutrality cannot be judged till Congress acts, it is felt that it has brought the oil embargo nearer and gives Russia and Rumania an assurance that America will not profit at their expense. REDUCTION WOULD BE EMBARRASSING ROME, 4th January. The Foreign Office spokesman says that President Roosevelt’s speech is not understood as forecasting a general embargo on the exports of war materials, especially oil, to Italy. Moreover, President Roosevelt’s reference to countries where people do not follow the Government does not apply to Italy. Other commentators point out that since September Italy has imported oil in enormous quantities from America, and was largely relying on it to carry on the war. Accordingly a reduction would be embarrassing. PARIS OPINION PARIS, 4th January. Government newspapers .express the opinion that the oil embargo is increasingly less probable, although the sanctionist press believes the opposite. Nev-

ertheless the newspapers admit misgivings regarding the result of impartial neutrality in the event of a European war.