Untitled

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 7

w» - DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT WILD REJOICING IN ROME MUSSOLINI SAYS VICTORY WILL BE DEFENDED SITUATION COMPLICATED BY FRENCH AND BRITISH ZONES OF INFLUENCE [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] LONDON, May 5. Whistles and sirens in Rome screamed the signal for a general mobilisation throughout Italy at 5.45 p.m. Although the news had not been announced, everyone realised that Addis Ababa was occupied. Crowds rushed into the streets and shopkeepers put up their shutters, while the church bells pealed and drums beat incessantly. The people cheered wildly, singing old wartime songs. Strong guards were placed at the British Embassy and at other points where the excitement might become troublesome. Rome has seldom witnessed such excitement as when, at 7.45 p.m., Signor Mussolini appeared at a window of the Palazzo Venezia, in the glare of powerful floodlights, and triumphantly declared the war finished. “Men and women of Italy and friends of Italy across the mountains and seas,” he said, “harken. General Badoglio telegraphs that to-day he entered Addis Ababa at the head of his victorious troops. During thirty centuries of history Italy has lived many memorable hours, but this certainly is one of the most solemn. I announce to the people of Italy and the world that the war is finished and peace re-established. I pronounce these words with emotion and pride, after seven months of harsh hostilities; but it is absolutely necessary to add that it is our peace, a Roman peace expressed in this simple, irrevocable, and final proposition. Ethiopia is for ever Italian. It is Italian in fact, because it is occupied by our victorious troops; it is Italian by right because it is occupied by the sword of Rome and civilisation, which have triumphed over barbarism. Justice has triumphed over cruel and arbitrary rule; redemption of the miserable has triumphed over - age-old slavery. Many faces in the former Abyssinian Empire have clearly shown the wish to live and work quietly under the Italian tricolours. The defeated chiefs no longer count. No force in the world can make them count. I solemnly promised on October 2 to do my utmost to prevent the African conflict spreading to Europe, as a European war would mean the fall of civilisation; but I must add that I am ready to defend our smashing victories with the same intrepid determination as won them.” Signor Mussolini paid a tribute to the fallen and to all others who participated in the campaign. He said: “Italy has not bent before the League of Nations, and ■will continue to march in peace towards the tasks facing her, with courage and faith.” The cheering was so stupendous that the Duce was obliged to appear again and again on the balcony. He looked flushed with delight and triumph. He was dressed simply in the uniform of a corporal of the Fascist militia. Fifteen minutes after the conclusion of his speech, Fascist officials announced that the mass mobilisation was over. The sirens shrieked and the church bells pealed, with the single exception of the great bell of St. Peter’s. The Pope did not listen to the speech, but was informed of its substance. Members of the Papal household State offered a prayer of thanks in the private chapel that the war was over. League’s Task Complicated. Signor Mussolini’s declaration that Ethiopia is Italian is considered in League circles as a definite indication that he intends to annex the country outright, complicating the League’s task, as it might be easier to find a formula of settlement if a puppet Government were installed. The French Foreign Office spokesman at Paris declared that the entry of the Italians into Addis Ababa has not changed the situation. France and Britain still recognised the Emperor as head of the sovereign State, but hoped that cordial relations with Italy would not long be delayed. He added that France and Britain had agreed that Italy would not control the French and British zones of influence in Abyssinia, defined bv the 1906 Treaty.

ROMAN GLORY BADOGLIO’S TRIUMPH ECSTATIC ENTHUSIASM £NTRY TO ADDIS ABABA REIGN OF TERROR ENDS YDDLS ABABA, May 5. The Italian native column having made a junction with the mechanised troops, amid ecstasies of enthusiasm, while aeroplanes dev overhead, Gen oral Badoglio entered Addis Ababa. H? rode a white charger at the head of a regiment of Bersaglieri wearing plumed helmets and grey-green uniforms, with Signor Alessandro Nessona, Minister for Co onies, and Signer Gieuseppe Bottai, Governor of Rome, beside him. Grenadiers, alpini, staff officers, wireless operators, newspapermen, field kitchens, additional regiments of the line, eng’ueers and Black bhirt volunteers f >ilcwed. News of the Italians’ arrival flew in a score of different languages to thousands of refugees. Legation guards relaxed their vigilance for. the first time since Sunday’s reign of terror, which culminated in M. Bodart, the French Minister, ordering a number of mutineers to be shot in order to ensure the safety of the Legations. The work of the British Legation staff j guards, many of whom were sleepless for three days, was beyond praise. Royal Congratulations King Victor Emanuel telegraphed Marshal Badoglio expressing gratitude and approval of the intrepid and victorious troops under his able and wise

The Addis Ababa correspondent of the Times reports that complete order was restored with the entry of the Italians. The French Legation, and Frenchmen who were besieged in railway buildings, had repulsed all attacks. Ras Nasibu and Wehib Tasha, finding that the Italians barred the way to escape into French Somaliland, headed for Jibuti, where they arrived safelv. ITALIAN FLAG OVER EMPEROR’S PALACE OCCUPATION OF CAPITAL , Received May 6, 10.45 p.m. ADDIS ABABA, May 6. Fifty aeroplanes roared overhead as . 25,000 Italians with colours flying occupied Addis Ababa. Bv Mussolini’s 1 order the 60th' Infantry Regiment belonging to the Sabaudia (Savoy) Diyi- . sion, named after the Royal Family, entered first, thus symbolising the union between the Royal Family and the Fascist regime. Then followed motor-cyclists, baby tanks, armoured cars and staff cars. Marshal Badoglio followed mounted on a white charger with General Borili on his right and ’ General Nessona on his left. Then came more infantry regiments, including the Bersaglieri Grenadiers, naval ratings, seven batteries of artillery, I squadrons of cavalry, four battalions |of Askaris, Black Shirts and other units. In the rear came the engineers and Red Cross. The population stood in silence as the long procession traversed the streets. Marshal Badoglio immediately proceeded to the Emperor’s palace, where the Italian flag was hoisted and saluted and the Italian National Anthem played. The OCCupat'nn of tbe city had

t carefully planned. The commanders of jthe various units knew exactly where » jto lead their troops and all strategic points were quickly occupied. One sec- r tion of the troops went to the centre t of the city, now practically burnt out, s-ot-hers went to the Customs House and railway station and the artillery occu pied the heights dominating the city. 11 Marshal Badoglio established his It headquarters at the Italian Legation a and within an hour was in wireless 4 communication with Rome. P 0 ENTRY TO CAPITAL J 1: RELIEF OF LEGATIONS a [ British Official Wireless. J RUGBY, May 5. Towards the end of a day during which the tense situation in the Abyssinian capital had been somewhat eased t by the evacuation yesterday and this f„ morning of certain foreign legations which were unable to withstand the , repeated attacks of marauding bands, ’ and the transfer of the personnel under ft the protection of British convoys to 1. the British Legation, the occupation of Addis Ababa by the invading Italian -i Army began. The British Minister reported to London that a large force of Italian t: troops was passing the British Lega- a tion in lorries from the middle of the 1, afternoon onwards. P PUSH CONTINUES a t ON SOUTHERN FRONT " a ITALIANS OCCUPY FAR SO li LONDON, May 5. g The Rome correspondent of the Times reports that the Libyan division, despite rain storms, has resumed its advance on the southern front, acd * has occupied Farso, which is 10 miles t from Jijiga, and 95 miles from Harra.n j _ c BRITISH RATION PARTY f ATTACK BEATEN OFF ADDIS ABABA, May 5. A ration party from the British Legation, while fetching food from the only undamaged store, boat off an attack and returned unmolested after taking refuge in a warenouse.. Food supplies are available to 'ast for some time. Attacks by Abyssinians armed with lswords and rifle-s compelled the withdrawal to the Legation of a hilltop s outpost. Dr. Junod sent a message ini- 1 ploring release from an outhouse in the yard of a burned hotel, where he > had been besieged for 36 hour;. EMPEROR AT JERUSALEM WILL REMAIN SIX WEEKS JERUSALEM, Al ay 5. Emperor Haile Selassie and his family are expected to remain here six weeks before going to London, after which Selassie will go to Geneva to observe negotiations for the reconstruction of Abyssinia. He will jc the guest of the High Commissioner for a few days, and will then occupy an Abyssin-ian-owned building in the street of the I prophets. I | MEAT FOR ITALIAN TROOPS . I PARACHUTED FROM ’PI-ANE : i ASMARA, May 5. 1 Owing to the heat precluding the 1 transportation of meat Italian aero- t planes parachuted two live oxen and ( 200 live goats to the troops in the ' Sardo district., in the Province.