EMPIRE TOTTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23863, 14 January 1941, Page 7

EMPIRE TOTTERS

ITALIANS IN AFRICA FLOW OF DESERTERS POSITION IN JIBUTI (Received Jantiary 18, 6.30 p.m.) i I/ONDON, Jaii. 12 While the British continue their ceaseless aerial and artillery bombardment of Tobruk, events elsewhere in Africa demonstrate Italy's precarious hold on her rebellious empire. The Italians in East Africa are now forced to use a new form of blackmail in order to stem the flow of deserters entering the British lines. Italian ©ffieers tell Abyssinian conscripts that Italy will shortly be making peace with (Britain, one of the conditions of which rill be an exchange of prisoners. The jAbyssinians are told that if they desert jfbey will be shot when they are returned to Italian hands. The Aden correspondent of the Times reports an unhappy situation in France's colony of Jibuti, where everything is rationed and trade is at a complete standstill. , The Italian secret police have spent money lavishly in maintaining a swarm of informants, and the arrest of many respectable French awl other European citizens at the instigation of Italians has caused great indignation. The people of Jibuti i are wholeheartedly united in their dislike of the Italians, and incidents frequently occur, Italians now wear mufti 1 in order to escape the sneers of the public. Four Italian officers were taken to hospital suffering from knife wounds received in wrangles over Marshal Badoglio's resignation and the .fascist war policy, which culminated in a free fight. Anti-Fascist feeling and discontent We reported to be growing stronger among-all Italians in Abyssinia, as they fully appreciate their perilous position, cut'off from help from outside and surrounded by enemies inside and outside the country. ABYSSINIAN EMPEROR CONFERENCES IN KHARTOUM ARMS FOR TRIBESMEN (Received January 13, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12 The Emperor. Haile Selassie is in Khartoum and fhr a, month has been receiving a constant stream of Abyssiniaa tribesmen who have evaded the Italian frontier patrols. They haw held conferences with Haile Selassie and returned to their villages with instruction? and arms. great achievement ADVANCE OF 230 MILES COLLAPSE OF ITALY PREDICTED / LONDON, Jan. 12 . While awaiting further developments in the Tobnik area, the public is wel content, to lake stock of what General Sir Archibald Wavell and Ids men have achieved in a si utile month. The Briti-h forces have advanced 230 capturing two ports with the shipping in them,' They have completely destroyed five Italian divisions and three Hlackshirt brigades, inflicting losses totalling in killed, wounded and ■ Prisoners nearly 80,000, including 3500 officers. A message from Singapore says the War Minister, Mr. F. C. Spender, who has just visited the Middle East, said Italy was showing sign of collapse. Defeat for Italy is inescapable," he ■"» "it. i s t j ine the Italians realised Germany will seek to take complete *Ol of Italy."