MUTINOUS SCENES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 January 1936, Page 5

MUTINOUS SCENES

TYROLESE TROOPS REFUSE TO LEAVE HOME BAYONET PICTURES OF IL DUCE ENTRAINED UNDER ESCORT (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Receivd 10th January, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, 9th January. The “Daily Telegraph’s”_ Innsbruck correspondent says that reliable ini urination from Meruno, South Tyrol* indicates that mutinous scenes attended the departure for Abyssinia of 500 soldiers of the Fifth Alpine Regiment. They noisily refused to leave home and tore down, smashed and bayoneted pictures of Signor Mussolini on the barrack walls. Officers called on those willing to go to the front, and only 18 responded. The remainder threatened violence when they were told that they would be entrained under escort. Officers fatally shot two with revolvers and severely wounded another. The men threw down their equipment on the station platform, reviled Signor Mussolini and cursed the war, after the outbreak of which 1650 recruits are reported to have escaped across the frontiers in order to avoid service. A Munich message states that an official German news agency states that the Mareno mutiny occurred on 26th December, and adds that in the ensuing fight many officers were seriously injured. REVOLTSPREADING INTERNMENT CAMPS FOR DESERTERS IN BAVARIAN ALPS (Received 10th January, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, oth January. The “Evening Standard’s” Berlin correspondent says that the revolt of German-speaking people in South Tyro* is spreading with increasing intensity. It is learned on unimpeachable authority that two internment camps foi deserters have been established in the Bavarian Alps. The German Government is anxious to avoid irritating Italy and declines to allow visitors. Some of the deserters have found work in German cities. The remainder arc supported by -South Tyrolean relief organisations. Similar camps exist in Switzerland and Jugoslavia. In the latter they are especially numerous. The Jugoslavian Government like the German is withholding information, but it is believed that the camps are so crowded that deserters are lodged with peasants.

MANY CONTRADICTIONS ISSUED BY ITALY MUTINY DENIED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright' (Received 10th January, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, 9th January. The Italian Government lias issued a batch of contradictions of various antiItalian reports including denials of the use of poison gas, the bombing of the Egyptian Red Cross at Daggalibur oil 4th January, and the capture by the Abyssinians of Tembien. They also deny the mutiny at Merano, declaring that all detachments departed for the front in perfect order amid the enthusiasm of the population. Moreover they deny reports that numerous deserters are escaping to adjoining States, pointing out that the passes into Bavaria, Austria and Jugoslavia are carefully guarded. Nevertheless it is that a batch of 200 entered South Germany today and there are now 3000 in Bavaria. ITALY'S PLIGHT EVIDENCE DAILY ACCUMULATED FINANCIAL CRASH SOON (Received 10th January, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, 9th January. The “Sun-Herald” says that evidence of Italy’s plight accumulates daily. All European Chancelleries believe that her financial and economic position is so serious that Italy cannot escape a financial crash after June at the latest, Tiie miltary position is equally unsatisfactory. A substantial advance in the north is regarded as impossible before the rains. The utmost congestion is reported in Last African ports, while transport systems, including road making, are declared to he verging on chaotic. Fifty tanks are stranded in the north ern section of Abyssinia without approaching the front line. The Italians thus far have utilised only one-tenth of their white effectives ir, the front line.

V/ATCHED BY GERMANY ANGLO-FRENCH CONVERSATIONS WITH CLOSE INTEREST (Received 10th January, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, 9th January. “Le Journal's” Berlin correspondent suggests that Germany may seek an explanation of the Anglo-French mutual assistance agreement which she considers vitiates the Locarno Pact, and that she may re-occupy the Rhine demilitarised zone, thus scrapping Locarno. The Foreign Office Spokesman in Berlin admitted that Germany was watching the Anglo-French conversations with close interest, but disclaimed that she regarded them as a violation of Locarno or had any intention of reoccupying the Rhine. GERMAN ARMAMENTS ANXIETY TO ENGLAND AND FRANCE WAR MUST END QUICKLY (United Preßß Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 101 li January. 11.0 a.m.) PARIS, 9th January. Mile. Genevieve Tabouis. the singularly well informed diplomatic correspondent of “L’Oeuvre,” asserting that England and France realise the inconvenience attached to oil sanctions, says the growing anxiety caused by German armaments makes Britain and France desire that the Italo-Abyssinian war bo finished as quickly as possible. They will encourage the League Committee of Thirteen to find a new basis for peace. Mile. Tabouis also states that Paris and London arc convinced that Signor Mussolini now regrets that he did not accept the Laval-Hoare plan and the tri-partite proposal on 15th August. II Duee made a mistake in thinking

lie could momentarily win over the Ethiopian chiefs and conquer the country in a few weeks. POLICY oFtERRORISM ALLEGED AGAINST ITALIANS REQUEST FOR INQUIRY GENEVA, 9th January. Abyssinia’s request for a League inquiry into Italian atrocities declares that the Italians are pursuing a definite policy of terrorism. It alleges that poison gas is being used against the Abyssinian troops on the northern front. Abyssinia asks the Council to take immediate energetic measures to end Italy’s repeated violations of the laws of war and international conventions. MR ANTHONY EDEN A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (British Official Wireless) (Received 10th January, i 1.30 a.m.) , RUGBY, 9th January. Before leaving London to attend the Council of the League of Nations, Mr Anthony Eden will fulfil a speaking engagement at Leamington in his constituenev. This will he his first public speech on Foreign Affairs since he became Foreign Secretary. Mr Eden will leave for Geneva probably on Sunday, 19th January. BRITISH AMBASSADOR RETURNING TO ROME (Received 10th January, 11.30 a.in.) RUGBY, 9th January. Sir Eric Drummond, (British Ambassador in Italy who has been in England on leave, it returning to Rome in a week or ten days time. specialToyage TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA GENEVA, 9th January. “The Times” Trieste correspondent says that the motorship Remo has been withdrawn from the Genoa-Australian line for a special voyage to South America, with which trade is growing as a result of the imposition of sanctions by various countries. ’ (Received 10th January, 9.30 a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, 9th January. The continuance of rains precludes aerial action owing to low clouds and poor visibility. Other operations are also held up.

DEPORTED FROM MALTA SIX ITALIANS PREJUDICIAL ACTIVITIES (Received 10th January, 12.35 p.m.) MALTA, 9th January. Six Italians were deported owing to activities prejudicial to the interests of the safety of the fortress. TEMBIEN PROVINCE ALL OCCUPIED BY RAS SEYOUM ITALIANS FLEE LONDON, Bth January. „ The correspondent of “The Times’ at Addis Ababa states that the Emperor announced that Ras Seyoum s forces have occupied the whole of the Tembien Province. The Italians in the last encounter fled, leaving a tank and lorry, and burning churches, as they retreated. . The Italians claim to have driven 2000 of Ras ' Mulugeta’s regulars off the northern slopes of .Amba Aradam, twelve miles to the south of Makale, by artillery bombardment. ITALIAN MORALE AT LOW EBB A message from Dessie states that an Italian doctor, a mechanic, and a machine-gunner, attached to a tank corps, who were captured in recent fighting, arrived by air with soleless slioes and tattered clothing. They declared they wished the war had never started. The mechanic referred to the low ebb of Italian morale and extolled _ the dauntless courage of the Abyssinians, whose fighting was a revelation. ‘THE LITTLE RAINS” ARRIVE UNUSUALLY EARLY OPERATIONS HALTED (Received 10th January, 12.35 p.m.) ADDIS ABABA, 9th January. The “little rains,” which are of uncertain date of appearance and duration, and may come at any time between Christmas and April, arrived unusually early, producing torrential downpours, bringing military operations to a standstill and affecting communications. It is believed they will considerably disturb Marshal Badoglio’s preparations for the next move.

The Abyssinian version of the fighting north of Dolo claims that they surprised an Italian column, capturing six tanks, six machine guns, a portable wireless station, and killed an Italian officer and thirty Askaris. Fiturari Taffari, the Abyssinian commander, says that the troops “showed themselves true sons of the Lion of Judah.” AN ADVANCE FOILED (Received 10th January, 12.35 a.m.) ASMARA, 9th January. The Italians report that carefully ‘hidden artillery south of Makale foiled, an Abyssinian attempt to penetrate the Italian lines at the key position of Scelikot by an advance along the valley of the Jabat river, field artillery and medium guns pouring in a rain of shells. Pieces of jagged rock split by the bombardment caused widespread casualties. Air raids assisting in driving back the advance also bombed a column advancing on Maitimchet ford.