ITALIAN CABINET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 28 August 1935, Page 7

ITALIAN CABINET

CALLED TO BOLZANO WITH TROOPS IN THE NORTH DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED HINT OF NEW PEACE TERMS (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received Aug. 27, 7.30 p.m. - LONDON, Aug. 27. The News-Chronicle’s Bolzano correspondent says that Mussolini has called a special meeting of ?abinet to be held at Bolzano on \ugust 28. Most members of 'abinet already are at Bolzano, participating in the manoeuvres. The purpose of the meeting is unknown. Only administrative questions will be discussed, not Abyssinia, but it would be in keeping with Mussolini’s sense of the dramatic to make some pronouncement regarding his intentions in Abyssinia while surrounded by troops in North Italy. Meanwhile Foreign Office officials at Rome are preparing the Italian ease against Abyssinia for presentation to the League Council on September 4. It is understood that Italy will argue that Abyssinia should be expelled from the League. The Morning Post’s Bolzano correspondent cays it is believed that Cabinet has been called to consider new British and French peace proposals. ITALIAN MANOEUVRES SIGNOK MUSSOLINI ARRIVES ROXIE, Aug. i 6. Signor Mussolini arrived at Bolzano this afternoon aniid.a.flourish of trumpets. He stood erect in the car to receive the plaudits of citizens, and afterwards read reports from Signor Baistrocchi (Under-Secretary of War), who paid a tribute to the efficiency of the mechanised troops. REAL WAR CONDITIONS. BARRAGES OF LIVE SHELLS. Received Aug. 27, 9.10 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 27. Mr. Ward Price, who is attached to Signor Mussolini’s personal staff dur ing the manoeuvres, cabling to the Daily Mail from Verona, reveals that the infantry advances are being made behind a ’‘creeping barrage” of live shells and machine-guns firing ball cartridges. This is obviously dangerous but Mussolini emphasises that it is necessary to accustom the soldiers to teal war conditions. EMPRESS’ DECISION IF PEACE IS DISTURBED WILL FIGHT BESIDE SELASSIE ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 26. After sixteen days’ fasting and praying for peace, the Empress, with drawn face and appearing to be greatly weakened, told an interviewer that if th? peace is disturbed she will be the first to exhort the people against the invader and will follow the example of the Empress Taitou, who fought at her husband’s side nt the Battle of Adowa. Sir Percival announces that a Swiss chef attached to the Court hag taken a holiday in view of the action of the Emperor and the Empress in abstaining from meat for a month, beginning to-day. Priests continue intercessory services, and foreign merchants are panic stricken by the Bank of Ethiopia B refusal to sell foreign exchange, as a result of which the thaler has fallen of an early air attack, are taking refuge to the coast and others a»e closing their shops. Hundreds of natives, apprehensive ot' early rur attack, are taking refuge in the hill villages, accompanied by their wives under umbrellas. The Italian Legation has dispatched luggage t 0 IDijbouti, indicating its eventual withdrawal. France is strengthening her railway defences ABYSSINIA CAMPAIGN DIFFICULTIES Internal conditions in Abyssinia were the subject of an address to the North Sydney Rotary Club last week by Major'L. .1. Danby, who was formerly associated with the British forces in the Sudan. Ethiopia was, he said, the only Christian native State in Africa, its kings claiming lineage back to Solomon and its people to Ham. Comprising a conglomeration of tribes, its political institutions were distinctly feudal. The ruling class was anxipus to abolish slavery, which was strongly maintained by many tribes. The suppression of this traffic was given as an excuse for Italy’s action, r but that country’s treatment of native races in its colonial possessions offered a striking contrast to conditions under British rule, nor were the past exploits of that nation in Africa particularly impressive. Major Danby said that a campaign in Abyssinia presented serious difficulties. It would probably be five years before success was possible, and this might be got at the cost of a million men and much money. It was very questionable whether Italy could afford this, together with the consequent weakening of moral, in view of the situation in Europe, especially as regards the Austrian frontier. Mussolini was proud of his army, but it had yet to prove itself. Italians were not noted for bulldog tenacity. The talk about a combination of the black races against the whites had not much to support it, Major Danby added. The main obstacle to such a combination was the fact that no native nation would fight under the chief of another tribe.