ITALY AND ETHIOPIA

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 February 1935, Page 5

ITALY AND ETHIOPIA

SOLOIERS EMBARK ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES AT ROME. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Sunday. The British United Press correspondent at Naples says that 1000 Fascist militia sailed for East Africa, fully equipped for colonial warfare, with suitable uniforms. Crowds cheered from the quayside. The troops reviewed by Signor Mussolini at Rome are sailing later.

There were scenes of tremendous enthusiasm throughout the day at Rome, when the 1911 class was called up. Parents and friends accompanied each batch of arrivals at the railway station.

Signor Mussolini informed the Fascist Grand Council that 70,000 Black Shirts had volunteered for service in Africa. He also revealed that a Black Shirt battalion had sailed from Naples on 10tli February, and will reinforce the garrison at Eritrea.

_ When thousands of young volunteers arrived in response to the call to the colours, following the frontier dispute with Abyssinia, General Yacari, commanding officer at Messina, realised that rations and clothing were insufficient, and telegraphed the War Office, pointing out the unwisdom of crowding a seaport with troops before adequate preparation. Signor Mussolini’s reply, as War Minister, was to place General Yacari on the retired list. Nevertheless, tin? difficulty is unsolved. The youngsters are flocking in without uniforms and unequipped except for small bundles brought from home. They will be drafted to Syracuse and Palermo before sailing. General Boscardi replaces General Yacari.