The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-28
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
OCT. %, 1885
BY DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT s. ALLEN.

"A
w claims of victory in Ethiopia
should be taken with a generous
helping of salt.
So far, MuSsolini's men have not
entered the peak Jagged central
plateau, and have been relatively
unopposed.
In reading all reports from the
front. it IS important to keep in
mind the first report made TO Mus
solini by the Italian general staff.
1t specified that the conquest would
require 100000 to 100000 men, would
cost a minimum of about 75O,000,0O0
lire a month, would require a mini
mum of two years followed by
guerilla fighting for an indefinite
period
MuSsolini had figured on only
10000 men and an expenditure of
$50 100000 lire monthly. According
to confidential reports received here.
when he received the general staff
report he tore it up.
This was the reason for placing
Gen. Di Bono, notorious fire.
eater not in sympathy with the
general staff, in charge of the Ethi-
cpian campaign.
Today, however, MusSolini is in
a position to realize that his gen.
eral staff was right.
Already he has around 100000
men in East Africa. Money is being
spent at an unknown rate; but, &C
cording to the Federal Reserve
Board, the Italian gold reserve has
diminished from $519,000,000 to
S379, 100000 in the last few months.
II the League can make sane
tons only so per cent effective
against Italy. and if Emperor Halle
Selassie can retain the loyalty Of
his chieftains for only lear, the
Italian attempt at conquest may die
aborning.
Note-Neutral military observers
| disagree with the Italian general
staff in the matter of time. They
estimate three instead of two years
tor the complete conquest of Ethi-
opia.
British officials estimate that
Mussolini will have exhausted his
cash in IS months. American ex-
perts figure that he can't last that
long.
nNE of the most formidable Judi
" cial assemblies in the country
is the annual conference of the
senior Federal Circuit Court judges.
presided over by the Chief Justice
of the United States Supreme
Court
1t is held in Washington just be-
fore the opening of the fall court
term, and ordinarily it is a solemn
and serious occasion.
The session just terminated was
opened by Chief Justice Hughes,
who tapped his gavel for attention
and observed gravely:
Gentlemen, I have noted with
much satisfaction the great amount
of public interest in the proceedings
OF the court this past year. 1 am
glad that our citizens are so at
tentive, for there was a time, not
long ago, when I thought we were
in danger of being overlooked.
AS an earnest of this re-aWakened
public interest I hold in my hand
a letter recently received. 1t is adj
dressed to John Marshall, Chief
Justice of the United States!"
With continued judicial gravity,
Chief Justice Hughes added:
ST have bppn in q n1IonGor1, bo,,t,
where I should forward this letter,
as do not know the ultimate des-
tination of our distinguished prede-
ceSsor."
Note-John Marshall, first Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, died
in 1885.
II Asst years hot argument on
~ whether Big Jim Farley did or
did not take the Postoffice Depart
ment out of the red, is starting all
over again.
Jim is claiming that he has an
other surplus. The Budget Bureau
says he has nothing of the kind.
According to its books, Jim really
has a s63,00O,00O deficit.
And to make the dispute more
complicated Controller General Nc
Carl claims that both are wrong.
Explanation for this delightful di.
versity is that each uses differ
ent basis for his bookkeeping.
Jim has taken advantage of
law put through by Walter F.
Brown, his Republican predecessor,
and deducted from postal expendi-
lures all subsidies to shipping, air.
lines and the cost of free mail un-
der the franking privilege. BY this
subtraction he is able to lop off
$75,000000; thereby pull a surplus
out Of the hat.
| Copyright. 1885. by United Featurs
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