FIRST GUILT

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 5

FIRST GUILT

WALWAL ATTACK ABYSSINIA BLAMED COMMISSION'S FINDING ITALY’S MORAL RIGHTS IN WHOSE TERRITORY? By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 9 p.m. Geneva, Sept. 3. The Arbitration Commission considering the Walwal incident has decided, .it is understood, that the Abyssinians were the aggressors and must give moral satisfaction to Italy. Compensation depends on the decision whether Walwal is in Abyssinian or Italian territory. Walwal was the scene of the incident that brought the Italo-Abyssinian dispute before the world. The Italians claim that on December 5, 1934, an attack was made by a strong body of Abyssinians, with a detachment of machine-gunners and a field-piece, on the Italian native garrison at the wells of Walwal in Italian Somaliland. The Italians deny that the attack was commenced by Italian troops. The Italian account states: At 5 p.m. on December 5 an Italian outpost at Walwal was suddenly attacked by about 1000 armed Abyssinians, supported by machine-guns and a field gun. The large forces attacking caused a slight retreat of the Italian line, but the Dubats (Italian Somali Guards) gallantly held out on the new positions until reinforcements arrived from neighbouring outposts. Then they routed the attackers, who fled, leaving on the field large quantities of arms and materials. The line originally occupied by the Dubats was thus retaken.

The joint Anglo-Abyssinian boundary commissioner had effectively arrived at the Italian outpost of Walwal on November 24 last, 12 days before the attack, and after making contact with the Italian command had left the zone. In view of the very large number of attackers it was unthinkable that these could have been the commission’s armed escort. The Italian Government lodged a protest at Addis Ababa demanding reparations in virtue of international custom, for the allegedly unwarranted Abyssinian attack which it was presumed was due to the initiative of some local chief. It is believed that 110 Abyssinians were killed in the clash. The first sitting of the commission was abandoned without reaching a decision, but since then it reassembled and had added to its four members a fifth.