Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-12
ITALY Mobiles
100000 FOR WAR
GAMES AUGUST "A
Orders Fail to State When
Soldiers May Return to
Homes.
MILLION MEN TO Be
UNDER ARMS ON DATE
Rome Sees Stresa Pact Endan-
gered by England's Attitude
as Paris Farley Nears.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, August 12-Orders distrib
uted today indicated the mobilization
of an Italian force of 100000 men for
war maneuvers in Northern Italy Au-
gust "a. bringing the total Italian
Army to a strength approaching
100000 men
Today's orders varied from the
usual formula in that they failed to
state the date upon which the mo-
bilized men could return to their
homes
This fact led informed quarters to
believe Premier Mussolini will be pre-
pared, during the last week OF this
month, to strike at any developments
in East Africa with the full weight of
a modified army which will be close
to the 100000 man total he set as
his objective for October
The mobilization OF August a has
been announced as designed for ma
neuvers in the Bremen Pass area.
Increases Mobile Power.
Observers said there obviously was
no thought of directing all the mill
tary efforts toward settlement of the
Ethiopian dispute, but that mobili-
cation Of the sort outlined for the
maneuverS in the North would give II
Duce mobile power to send almost
any number of additional regiments
into East Africa to aid the 235 900
men already ordered there.
Faint hopes for the preservation of
the "Stresa front" prevailed in in
formed circles today as Italy's delega-
ton prepared to depart for the tri-
partite conversations in Paris Thurs
day on the Italo-Ethiopian contro-
verSy.
Similar skepticism greeted reports
from Adds Ababa that Emperor Halle
Selassie had agreed to cede some land
to Italy in exchange for heavy loan
or an Ethiopian outlet to the sea.
These sources had no hesitation in
conceding that the accord with
France, Great Britain and Italy
achieved at Stresa four months ago
in the face CT German rearmament
was in imminent danger of collapse
as consequence of Britain's attitude
toward Italy's East African policy.
Italy Expects Little.
Italy will go to Paris, it was pointed
out. in the same spirit that she went
to Geneva-without expectations that
anything will be accomplished to
obviate the necessity of her exercis-
ing the military power she has mar
shaled in her East African colonies.
She will be simply fulfilling her
engagement as a signatory of the
treaty of 1906 with Ethiopia.
That treaty provides for the eco
nomic settlement of the Ethiopian
problem by arbitration by the three
great Western powers.
Italy contends, however. that she
has never been able to enforce the
terms of the treaty because of what
is regarded here as lack of Eth
opian cooperation. That creates the
feeling that the Paris conversations
will be barren of any beneficial diplo-
matte settlements.
New Aerial Weapon Found.
News of Ethiopia's reported offer
OF strip of sand arrived here on
the heels of stories that Italy had
acquired a new and powerful weapon
for aerial attack and in the midst of
expanding her military preparations.
1t was conceded that other nations
might be interested in such an offer.
but Italy. it was asserted, could not
reconcile the proffered sand trap"
and other concessions with the con-
ditions Mussolini has named for
total solution" of the problem.