The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-03
1,25O,OOO of Military Age


munition. were ordered to the front
at once.
1,250,0OO of Military Age
It vas estimated that the emperor
could depend on about I25O,OOO
fighting men and boys OF useful mil
itary age
Few Of the men outside the i'm
perial guard had any military train
ing IN the European sense. Almost
none had weapons that would en-
able them 10 stand up against any
modenly equipped soldier. Their
weapon and their bulwark was
magnificent courage that has never
admitted defeat
They were opposing today the sue
CesSors OF the Roman Legions of
Augustus Caesar. who tried to con-
quer Ethiopia as they had the rest
Of the known world and turned back
before there was a battle, beaten By
the fevcTS OF the coastal lOWlands.
Ethiopian chiefs were such men as
The powerful Ras Kassa Of Gondar.
7 NJ.
who lost an eye at Aduwa 80 years
ago when Ethiopian warriors
slaughtered an invading Italian
army.
Guerrilla Warfare Is Planned
There were a maximum of 500 900
guns. of which 100000 could be
called modern, and the rest fowl
ing pieces Of all vintages. requir-
ing many types Of ammunition-of
which there was but a small supply
for all the country.
The one hope of even noticeable
defense against the Italian armies
was the plan Of strategy carefully
worked out by the emperor, his
gaUdily Caparisoned chiefs and the
Handful Of foreign military advisers,
Swedish. Belgian and Turkish who
have helped TO whip a small part
OF the tribal army into shape.
The plan was for guerrilla war
fare
Relish Hand to Hand Fight
The men Will be able to raid.
snipe. and disappear into the hills
like Wraiths-a according to plan. The
difficulty Is the fierce temper of the
warriors, who like a fight and whose
favOrite tactical plan is to mass and
90 on the run for the enemy. seek
ing hand-tO-hand combat. At Ualual
last December IN the clash that was
The Ostensible cause of the imminent
war, they tried to turn over Italian
tanks. splitting machine gun fire,
with their bare hands.
If the tactical plans succeed, how
ever, the warriors according to the
government idea will retire slowly,
and later infiltrate into the enemy
army. haTaSS communications and
OutpOSts, and give the tremendous
natural obstacles of the interior
plateau country a chance to work in
their favor where there are no roads
and the mountains are slashed by
great gOTges that made advance
tedious business.
Natives Ready for Attack
The northwest front. where long
gradually rising slopes give easy &C
cess to Gondar. chief strategic town
on the area near Lake Tana. heart
OF the Blue Nile irrigation project, is
the only one where many men will
be massed. it is believed.
Here there are few tank traps
and rough Notifications.
But the weakness Of the plan lay
in the courage of the tribesmen and
their known imp9tienCe to seek per-
Sonal contact with an enemy. where
dagger and sword would be the final
weapon.
Charges Treaty Violation
"RenOuncing the signature she
gave to the League covenant. vio-
laung the peace promises SOlemnly
made to us in 1923 in the Italian
Ethiopian treaty. reducing to nil all
international ngagementS-nOtabl
the pact renOuncing war-Italy pre-
pares for the second time to violate
our territory" the proclamation
continued.
The hour Is gravel
Raise yourselves each one, take
90 arms. and come to the COuntry'S
sail for its defense!
"SOldierSl Rally to your chiefs!
Obey them with single hearts and
repeI the invader!
May those who are unable be-
cause Of weakness or inhrmity 10
take an active part in this sacred
quarrel help us with their prayers.
Opinion throughout the world
has revolted at this aggression
against us.
God be with us.
All up For the Emperor! For
the country
TwO-Year War Expected
The streets of Rome were still
lined today with flags and the walls
covered with Fascist posters.
Italians expect their forces to
register a crushing victory within
three or four mOnthS-before re-
sumption of the rains could force
halt in operations.
The ma iOrity. however. realize that
Ethiopia can not b. brought TO her
knees IN one fighting season and
that SubjugatiOn of the country Will
probably require at least TWO years.
An official climbed upon block
Of stone TO read the proclamation.
We. Halle SelaSSie' he began.
Those packed IN the courtyard
seemed absolutely mOtionleSS. The
only apparent movement was that
Of yulturCS, wheeling high above the
crowd as others were doing in the
zone of the Italian advance.
The official read the prOClama-
ton in a Sing-SOng voice.
Death With a Smile
Then in the still air came triple
drum beat eChOing out to be caught
miles away on the ears OF waiting
signal men and 10 be repeated from