AERIAL MENACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22202, 31 August 1935, Page 13

AERIAL MENACE

ITALIAN OFFENSIVE ABYSSINIA PREPARES BOMB-PROOF SHELTERS EMPEROR AND EXTREMISTS By Telosraph—Press Association—Copyright (■Received August 30. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Aug. 30 The spooial correspondent of the Daily Telegraph .'it Addis Ababa, Sir Percival Phillips, reports that bomb-proof shelters are hurriedly being constructed in the Abyssinian capital in anticipation of the threatened Italian air offensive. The anti-air raid drill arranged for to-day was postponed until Monday, owing to the Emperor's gigantic religious service to be held on an open plain near the city. The Emperor's peaceful attitude and his reliance upon the League of Nations to save his Empire from attack are not supported by some of his extremist military leaders. They favour an aggressive policy more in conformity with Abyssinia's ancient warlike traditions. They are even urging the Emperor to take the offensive. For this they have been sharply reprimanded, the Emperor declaring that nothing must tie said or done to give Italy an excuse for invasion.

REGIMENT OF WOMEN A PICTURESQUE LEADER NEARLY READY FOR THE FRONT (Received August 30. 5.15 n.TT>.) LONDON. Aug. 80 Tho Addis Ababa correspondent of the Snn-Hcrald news service says that Abyssinia's regiment of women, numbering 3000, is nearly ready to mardh out of the capital. The writer obtained an interview with tho leader, whose name in Amharic (the official Abyssinian language) means " one who became a new flower and whoso life closely resembles that of Mary Magdalene." Young, tall and beautiful, this leader said her husband was killed in a tribal battle. " Then God spoke to me and I became His." Years of prayer followed and then, hearing of Italy's threat to invade the country, she walked 300 miles through terrible country to Addis Ababa to organise a women's corps. The women wear khaki uniforms with Sam Browne belts and carry Mauser revolvers. They need only a few more arms and ammunition and then will be ready to go to the front.

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE FREE HAND RETAINED" NEUTRAL AT PRESENT (Received August 30. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 30 Tho Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent says that, although it is authoritatively stated that the Japanese Government has no intention of becoming involved in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia, the foreign spokesman said yesterday: "Japan retains a free hand to act as future circumstances dictate." At present the Government is maintaining the strictest neutrality. VATICAN'S COMPLAINT POPE'S RECENT SPEECH PASSAGES NOT' PUBLISHED VATICAN CITY, Aug. 29 The official organ of the Vatican, Osservatore Romano, complains that the Pope's speech against war was reported in the Italian press in four brief extracts, which did not give the full meaning and omitted passages in which His Holiness condemned the right of self-defence if carried to excess. SCANDINAVIAN STATES (Received August 30, 10.55 p.m.) Time 3 Cable LONDON, Aug. 30 Tho Oslo correspondent of the Times states that at a conference of the Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, called to discuss their attitude toward the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia, it was decided to stand by the Covenant of the League of Nations.