The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-12-28
1855 t!a XII II
Etl,iopia Becomes Worlds Powder Keg
BY HERBERT YAHRAES (Aaacciated Press Staff Writer)

A story glamorous asia tale from the Arabian Nights and grim as a diary from Flanders trenches climb ed to commanding place in 1935's headlines.
 So far as John Smith was con- cerned at the moment, the big news of October came from Detroit, de- tailing the opening battle of that great American epic, the world se- ries.
 But he would not dispute that for posterity the day was marked by news that thundered from the dis tant borderland between Italy's Fri Urea and independent Ethiopia-the war had started-Il Duces legions were on the march.
 The curtain had been long in go- ing up on the African drama. All through the year had run that omi- nous refrain--"War . /. in Ethiopia {. \. when the rainy season ends"
 Much Geography
 TroopShipS sail for Africa, Ethi- opia appeals to the league, another Italian class called to the colors, league conciliation commission will meet, Great Britain backs the league, Italy seeks delay at Geneva, Ethiopian forces move toward front, France offers peace proposal, Mus solini says Italy won't be stopped so ran the headlines
 Yet only that long build up'' made John Smith view the war as less incredible than a chronicle of Haroun al Raschid.
 How could he even have imagined that 1885 would find the military forces of a great modern nation ar rayed against a heterogeneous collec- ton of black skinned warriors, clad in white shammas, armed with every thing from spears to machine guns, headed by sad-faced emperor who trac d his ancestory to Solomon, walked under an elaborate umbrella, slept in silk tent, guarded a de- cades-old war chest,' and, incog- nito,i made midnight excursions to test the alertness of the palace guards?
 John Smith found himself absorb ing more geography than he ever had learned from the Chaco war (which ended this year without marked ben efits to either Paraguay or Bolivia
 Deadly Serious
 If he wondered why the fantastic material was not worked into a comic ballad or popular song he had only to look at the news from Europe.
 British wa ships patrolling the Mediterranean, Italian troops mass ing in Libya bordering Egypt), the Egyptian nationalistS rioting in pro- test against British domination. of their country, Romans demonstrat- ing against Englishmen - these caught John Smiths eye because of the physical action
 Economic Pressure
 The action of minds, as diplomats wore themselves weary attempting to swing world opinion against Italy and at the same time safeguard their own countries interests, was not. aiperficially, SC interesting, but it did result for the first time in history i'll a2 nations cracking down" on an- other as an aggressor. ,e M
 Remembering his own meatless. wheatless, sugarless days in 1917-18. John Smith wondered how long Italy could withstand the economic pres- sure.
 Questions
 At the year-end, John Smith saw possibilities for infinite trouble.
 Would the Italians heed any de- 'nand that they give up conquered Ethiopian territory?
 Would China stand idle if five of her northern provinces carried out plans to form separate state, under Japan's sponsorship?
 Would Greek republicans quietly accept Georges return to the throne?
 If Austria restored the monarchy, what would its neighbors do?
 Would Germany, which had gained tacit permission to rearm despite the Versailles treaty and had re-won 
 the Saar in plebiscite, take advan- tage of the world situation to de- mand, like Italy, an even larger place in the sun?
 As John Smith pondered these questions, he found entirely reason able the Nobel committees decision to award no peace prize for 1885.