HOUSE-WARMING OVER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 127, 11 May 1936, Page 5

HOUSE-WARMING OVER

Italians Settle Down Quietly In Ad-dis Ababa. ABYSSINIANS MAKE NO TROUBLE. / Press Association— Copyright. . llljEoridon, May 9. The keynote of ail*, messages from Addis Ababa is that the town is rapidly settling down and adapting itself to Italian occupation, says the Rome correspondent of the Times. Military fatigue parties are gradually removing the debris left after the rioting and clearing the burnt-out areas badly. Damaged buildings are being demolished. The fugitives are reported to be returning. and to re-establish confidence the Italian command has ordered the Bank cf Abyssinia to reopen. As soon as the news became known people are stated to have crowded the building to exchange their thalers into Italian money, in which “they have the greatest confidence.” Special officials have been appointed to explain the value of Italian money.

Abyssinian policemen directed by Italian officers and Eritrean non-commis-sioned officers are maintaining order in the central quarter of the town. No time is apparently being lost in following the Fascist motto “Catch them young,” and the youngsters of Addis Ababa are stated to be greeting Italian officers with the Fascist salute.

The Italians declare that the Emperor was mostly responsible for the looting which followed his flight, as his parting words were, “Open my palace to the people. Leave nothing for the Italians, Sack and burn everything inside and outside the palace.” A number of Europeans are stated to have overheard him saying this. The fact that such thorough preparations were made to defend the British legation is taken to show that English residents of Addis Ababa “placed no trust in Abyssinian 'civilisation, which the British Government nevertheless is defending at Geneva.” Italian planes are dropping proclamations at Addis Ababa announcing that Italy rules Ethiopia, warning the Abyssinians that firearm., must be surrendered by midnight and inviting refugees to return to their normal occupations. Askaris are busy throughout the country suppressing brigandage and machine-gunning pillagers. French troops were to-day stiffly engaged in routing pillagers of the Diredawa Customs house. General Graziani has been promoted to the rank of marshal. The Crowm Prince of Germany telegraphed Signor Mussolini congratulations on his “victory in a war which despite all opposition concluded to the surprise of everyone.”