SELASSIE FLEES.

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1936, Page 5

SELASSIE FLEES.

Reported To Be Leaving For Palestine.

FLIGHT FROM CAPITAL CAUSES RIOTING. BRITISH SUBJECTS SHELTERING IN COMPOUND. END OF RESISTANCE LIKELY. (Received Sunday, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. The British United Press Paris correspondent says the Government has been officially informed that Haile Selassie will arrive at Djibouti on Sumjay and will board a British ship en route for Palestine, where he will be out of reach of the Italians and will also be near Abyssinia if his presence is needed. He will reside in France if forced into exile. It is emphasised that the Emperor has not abdicated. A Minister has been empowered to negotiate in his absence. In view of the Emperor’s earlier announcement to resist the Italians approaching Addis Ababa there is some, scepticism about the early morning reports that he has left the capital, en route for Djibouti” but a message received in official quarters in London from Sir Sydney Barton (Consul-Gen-eral) confirms the report that Selassie and members of the royal family left in the early morning by train for Djibouti. The flight of the Emperor led to disorder, shooting and looting in the capital. The military guard at the British Legation has been strengthened and food and water supplies taken in to accommodate three thousand people. It is understood that nationals, including Indians, Somalis and thirty whites are probably now under protection at the compound. The Emperor was interviewed by Sir Sydney Barton before his flight, which was not at Sir Sydney Barton's suggestion. He did not authorise Sir Sydney Barton to act as an intermediary. Sir Sydney Barton has not made plans for leaving Addis Ababa. It is possible that the arriving Italians may ask foreign legations, including the British, to leave or the British may decide to leave as the new Italian government in the eity would be difficult for the British to recognise. The news of the Emperor’s flight is regarded in London as the end of organised resistance. Whether having left he is stiH head of the state of Abyssinia is an awkward question.

SUDDEN CHANGE. ' OWN SAFETY ENDANGERED. STALWARTS REFUSE TO FIGHT. (Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 2. According to the “Sunday Times’s” diplomatic correspondent, Haile Selassie has definitely abdicated and. transferred control to Ministers. The Emperor’s sudden change of mind was due to the men on whom he was relying for further efforts refusing to fight. Moreover, Selassie was compelled to recognise that his personal safety might be endangered in journeying through a somewhat unfriendly portion of Abyssinia before he could reach a point where fresh resistance could bo organised. It is believed that when Addis Ababa falls, Marshal Badoglio who will then control two-thirds of Abyssinia will cease hostilities and demand the submission of chieftans, who presumably will surrender.

PALACE SACKED.

HOOLIGANS BREAK LOOSE IN ADDIS ABABA.

SPECULATION: IN FRANCE. (Received , Sunday, 7.30 p.m.) . PARIS, May 2. Official circles are surprised at Haile Selassie’s unexpected departure, although it was anticipated that the Empress and other royalties would go to Damgouti, following Selassie’s recent the Minister at Addis Ababa whether France would obto J? 6 80 - val family ’s arrival there. The Minister replied negatively. Reports from Addis Ababa state that immediately the Emperor’s departure was known hooligans disbanded the soldiers and looted the imperial palace. Armed gangs roamed the streets, shooting wildly and pillaging. Hitherto there were no casualties. The trench colony is taking refuge at the legation, which is.-protected by machine guns. Members of the Government motored off with the Imperial archives and are believed to be head- \ n £. for .?° n ’ miles «outh-west of Addis Ababa. Speculation has begun hi Paris regarding Selassie’s future. The Foreign Office spokesman says he will be treated with every respect as a monarch in distress. He is entitled to embark on any vessel and will be permitted to reside in France. However, the question arises whether an Italian warship in the Red Sea might search a neutral ship suspected of carrying the Emperor with a view to nis capture.

LAST APPEAL “ABYSSINIA NOT BEATEN.”

EMPEROR nearly killed.

(Received Sunday, 6.30 p m ) ADDIS ABABA, May 2. While an ' Ralieti ! aeroplane circled overhead war druftiS summoned the people of Addis Ababa to the Emperor’s hilltop palace to hear his appeal for a last effort to defend capital. “I ask every man who is neither wounded nor sick to take arms and enough food for five days and proceed north and attack the Italians,” he said. The crowd surged forward shouting: “We will go.” The commander-in-chief of this hastily-levied army will be Bas Getatachu. It will march out of Addis Ababa to-day to meet the Italians. The Emperor is still wearing a fieldmarshal’s uniform but his face is drawn and haggard, his beard streaked 1 with grey and both hands are band-

aged. “Abyssinia is not beaten and is not suing for peace,” Selassie told foreign newspaper correspondents. “If I am compelled to evacuate Addis Ababa it will have no significance. I shall establish a new seat of government and a new general headquarters westward of the capital. The war is not over yet by a long way. My army is still capable of fighting and I am more than ever determined to fight to the last man.”

How Selassie missed death by inches at Magdala is related by a military adviser, General Gomivnloff. The rebel population, without warning, opened fire on the Emperor’s suite, Trilling the chamberlain and valet, between whom the Emperor was standing.

GENEVA DISMAYED.

Position more complicated. ACTION BY THE LEAGUE. (Received Sunday, 7.30 p;m.) GENEVA, May 2. Haile Selassie’s flight has dismayed League quarters, where it is felt that the position is singularly complicated in view of the unprecedented problem produced by the collapse of resistance, as while resistance continued the League’s course was clear in the maintenance and possibly the strengthening of sanctions until collective security triumphed. It is contended that it would be a violation of the League’s principles to admit that an aggressor was entitled to the fruits of victory. Consequently, if the Covenant means anything League action ought to be continued. It is anticipated the Italians will now insist on their claim that Haile Selassie was a usurper is justified.

FALL OF CAPITAL. EARLY OCCUPATION LIKELY. (Received Sunday, 6.30 p.m.) HOME, May 2. The “H Tevere” asserts that Addis Ababa is likely to be occupied to-mor-row. Marshal Badoglio’s communique inentions overcoming considerable difficulties during the northern advance and confirms the capture of a large quantity of war material at Mount Termaber, north of the capital.

PRESSMAN INJURED. ADVICE. FROM AMERICAN LEGATION. (Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 2. By means of an emergency portable radio apparatus operated by naval technicians in Addis Ababa the State Department was - kept in fairly constant touch with its Minister, Mr. Engert to-day. With the exception of Mr Ben Ames, a United Press correspondent who suffered sabre wounds when attempting to make his way through a mob, Mr. Engert reported none of the ninety Americans resident in Ethiopia to be injured. Those within the legation compound underwent extreme danger, however, as a number of stray bullets struck the walls. The rioting finally subsided and Mr. Engert informed the department to cease communications, pending a new threat of danger at the legation.