ACTIVITY RESUMED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 5

ACTIVITY RESUMED

ITALIANS IN ABYSSINIA RAINY SEASON ENDS LONDON, Sept. 9. After a long period of inactivity caused by the rainy season, it is announced in Rome, in a semi-official message from Addis Ababa, that the first band of Eritrean troops and of men led by Ras llailu has left the capital to resume “combing” operations over a wide area “towards the interior.” The column, commanded by white officers, is being transported in motor lorries, which are also carrying large supplies of petrol and arms. Each lorry is driven by an Italian civilian, with whom are two white soldiers. Although tho had weather continues to impede military movements on a large scale, it is expected that by the end of September ' conditions will have sufficiently improved to make possible a widespread resumption of the task of occupation. No precise information has been made available as to the area so far effectively controlled by the Italians, but, according to the Rome correspondent of The Times, it can safely be said that at least a third, if not half, of the country has yet to see an Italian soldier; and tho aggressive spirit so far displayed by the surviving Abyssinian bands in tho two attacks on Addis Ababa and in the destruction of an Italian reconnaissance party at Lekemti early in J uly, indicates that the work of completing the occupation will prove both long and difficult, Ras Gugsa, one of the first Abyssinian chiefs to go over to the Italian side, has been visiting a number of places in Italy during the last few weeks, and was received last week-end by Signor Mussolini, to whom lie afterwards presented all the Imperial decorations conferred on him Joy the Emperor, Haile Selassie, his shield, and his ceremonial mantle, with its lion’s mane.