HARDSHIPS AND PERILS

Southland Times, Issue 23254, 17 July 1937, Page 6

HARDSHIPS AND PERILS

MISSIONARIES IN ABYSSINIA EXPERIENCES OF MRS MITCHELL The work of missionaries in Abyssinia and the perils and hardships to which they were subjected during the Italo-Ethiopian war were described in an interview with The Southland Times by Mrs G. Clifford Mitchell, who, with her two-year-old son, returned to InvercargiL yesterday after nearly six years o'" missionary work in Abyssinia. Mrs Mitchell has tragic memories of the country, for her husband was killed by the Arussi Gain tribesmen while trying to reach Addis Abal:)a - , , Mrs Mitchell was formerly Miss Myrtle E. Jenkins and was a school teacher for some time in Southland before going to Abyssinia. She was married by the British Consul in Addis Ababa to Mr George Clifford Mitchell, son of Mr and Mrs F. J. Mitchell, of Blockhouse Bay. Mr and Mrs Mitchell were working for the Sudan Interior Mission among the Guji and Davassa tribes in a district approximately half-way between Addis Ababa and the Kenya border. The Guji tribe was nomadic, moving about the country between the Highlands and the Lowlands with its herds of cattle. The tribesmen were a quiet, reserved people. The Davassas, who made their living from the growing of coffee beans and grain, were, on the other hand, a more noisy, war-like tribe. “We loved the people of both tribes, however,” Mrs Mitchell said, and sought to bring to them the true meaning of Christianity. Ours was a pioneer work and at the end of 1935 we were just seeing the fruits of our labour the people were sympathetic and very friendly towards us —when we had to leave our station because of the outbreak of war.” OUTBREAK OF WAR

' All the missionaries in the Sidamo province were ordered to concentrate at Yerga Alem, the capital of that province. Early in 1936, when "Ras Desta’s army suffered heavily in the terrible retreat near the Italian Somaliland border, it was thought wise to send all the women missionaries to Addis Ababa, as Yerga Alem was in the direct line of advance of the Italian army. Describing the situation in Addis Ababa when the Emperor fled from the country and the Government collapsed, Mrs Mitchell said this had provided the signal for an outburst of fanatical rioting on the part of the native townsmen and troops from the Emperor’s northern army who came into Addis Ababa hungry and desperate. The suffering these troopshad experienced found an outlet in rioting and pillaging. While most of the European population had retired to the British Legation under the protection of a company of Sikh troops, the missionaries of the Sudan Interior Mission sought sanctuary in their compound, which was practically unguarded. “Had the rioters made an attack we could have done nothing,” said Mrs Mitchell. “Although they streamed past for days, shooting off their firearms and looting continuously, we were never menaced at our headquarters and the compound was left intact. Even more remarkable was the fact that the home of Dr Lambie, director of the mission, which was left unoccupied remained untouched throughout the rioting. COMMUNICATION DESTROYED During the time the. missionaries were at Addis Ababa all communication. with the provinces was destroyed and it was not until August 1936 that word of the death of Mr Mitchell, which

had occurred in May, reached the capital. When Mrs Mitchell left Abyssinia the Italians were in possession of all the main centres, but the trouble with the natives was by no means at an end and as yet there was nothing more than military occupation of the country. In no circumstances was travel between Addis Ababa and outlying towns safe for the Italians. Strong convoys were always necessary. Ethiopian resistance had fallen to pieces with the abdication of Haile Selassie and there was now no leader in the country. Under the old regime missionaries had always received great assistance from Haile Selassie.

At present, Mrs Mitchell said, the Italians had placed restrictions on the missionaries and there was not one Protestant missionary working’ outside Addis Ababa. In some cases certain missionaries had been refused permission to carry on their work at all. The Italians did not welcome their presence in Abyssinia. “I loved my work,” said Mrs Mitchell, “and would gladly go back to continue it if permission was given. But even should all the missionaries have to go from Ethiopia I believe the work will continue through the native Christian church.” Mrs Mitchell is at present on a year’s furlough and is staying with her parents, Mr and Mrs A. R. Jenkins, Underwood.