NEED CIVILISING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22833, 18 March 1936, Page 9

NEED CIVILISING

INDICTMENT OF ITALIANS MISSION DIRECTOR’S VIEWS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 10. Dr C. J. Rolls, home director for Australia and New Zealand for the Sudan Interior and the Nubian Frontier Mission, has arrived in Melbourne after spending six months in Abyssinia supervising Red Cross units at the fiont. He is convinced that Italy will never conquer Abyssinia, and that the Italians, not the Abyssinians, need civilising. Dr Rolls, who left Addis Ababa last month, said the reports of crushing Italian victories in Northern Abyssinia were ridiculous. Italy’s position was now almost the same as at the beginning of the war. Italy bad broken almost every international law. “ The women and children of Abyssinia are being mangled by Italian air raids on native villages,” lie added. In one native village I saw a mother and her three children mangled after an air raid.” AN ITALIAN VERSION GENEVA, March 16. The League has received a protest, accompanied by photographs, from Italy in connection with the alleged massacre of 57 labourers, Overseer Rocca, and his wife. All the victims were alleged to have been terribly mutilated. A message received on March 0 stated; The casualties in Abyssinia include 57 road makers, whom the Abyssinians surprised at an advanced point of the northern front. The engineer, Cesare Rocca, with his wife, Lydia, defended the post until the ammunition was exhausted, when the party was overwhelmed. Signora Rocca was the first Italian female casualty. ITALIAN BOMBER CRASHES ROME, March 16. A communique issued by Marshal Badoglio reports: “A bomber returning from a reconnaissance flight crashed within our lines. The crew of five were killed.” BOMBING OF RED CROSS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 16. Viscount Cranborne (Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs), in the House of Commons, in answer to a question regarding the representations made to the Italian Government on the bombing of a British ambulance in March, said that as far as could be judged from the summary of the Italian reply telegraphed by the British Ambassador, the Italian Government admitted the bombing of an encampment furnished with at least one Red Cross sign. Regarding the claim that the bombing was in retaliation for opening fire on Italian aircraft from the encampment, Viscount Cranborno said there were considerable discrepancies between the Italian account an/i the report previously communicated by Dr Melly, of the British Red Cross unit. He assured the House that the matter would be pursued with the Italian Government with the utmost energy as soon as Dr Melly’s comments had been obtained. ABYSSINIAN RESISTANCE PARIS, March 16. (Received March 17, at 9 p.m.) Abyssinia refuses direct negotiations with Italy and insists that any peace ponrpalers take place through the League, from which she expects full help without delay under Article 16 of the Covenant. The Ethiopian Legation insists that Abyssinian fighting power and resistance are as strong as ever, and declares that Italian communiques are issued coincidentally with League meetings in order to induce the world to believe that further help for Abyssinia is useless. “ Peace is impossible while Italy occupies a foot of Abyssinian territory.” HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE NORTH ADDIS ABABA, March 10. (Received March 17, at 9 p.m.) Heavy fighting is reported north of Scelicot and Antalo, where an attempt is being made to encircle Italian troops. There have been heavy casualties on both sides. The Italian advance is stated to have been so reckless that the communications are exposed to Abyssinian raiders.