REPRISALS DENIED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18988, 13 April 1936, Page 8

REPRISALS DENIED

REPLIES TO THE LEAGUE ABYSSINIA AND ITALY PLANES RESUME BOMBING EASTER ASSEMBLIES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. April 13. 1.15 p.m.J GENEVA, April Y&. The Abyssinian Government in a statement ii^reply lO'the appeal of the League Committee of Thirteen that both belligerents in the Halo-Abyssinian war should observe the iaws of warfaree declares; "Klhiopiu has strictly adhered to international agreements and also refrained from all reprisals, despite Italian flagrant and systematic violations thereof. However, possibly isolated individuals have reacted against the Italian inhumanities, but Ihe Government has severely punished such lapses." As already reported the reply of the Italian .Minister. Dr. Suvieh, was thai the observance of the laws of war bad been and is the constant rule of the Italian army, but such assurance must be bilateral. The Italian military authorities could not avoid the reprisals For any act of ferocious atrocity committed by the enemy in defiance of the principles of right and morality. These statements represent the Italian attitude. STATEMENTS BY POLE

A further Italian statement declares that the Pole. Dr. Belau, who bad stated that when a prisoner of the Italians he was compelled to sign a false statement denying that the Italians bombed the American Red Cross Hospital at Desse. is not a doctor, but a Polish deserter. The new statement adds that the declaration, which be spontaneously banded to the Italians who treated him at Massawa, was written and signed voluntarily. International legal experts, commenting on the Italian threats to again press claims regarding Abyssinian atrocities, emphasise that reprisals become illegal if they contravene agreements. An Addis Ababa communique says that while the population ol Warranailu, 40 miles to the south-west of Desse. was celebrating Easter and many were worshipping in churches. Italian planes heavily bombarded the town and at least three persons were killed and five wounded. Crowds rushed from the churches and took refuge in the surrounding forests. The attack is believed to be the latest Italian attempt to discover the whereabouts of the Emperor, Haile Selassie. Italian planes bombed and gassed Sasn Ranch on Good Friday.