Evening star., 1935-07-18
Asks Nation to
Unite i'm
Battle.
VICTORY SURE,
SELASSIE SAYS
Blanes ii Duce i'm
Appeal-Atroci-
ties Denied.
BY the Associated Press.

Adds ABABA. Ethiopia, July l8.-
Emperor Halle Selassie called on all
EthiopianS to follow him into battle
today, declaring it was better to die
free than to live without liberty
The King of Kings and Lion of
Judah, addressed both his parliament
and his soldiers.
In impassioned tones he said the
military preparations by Italy now 60
ing forward proved the intentions of
that country to conquer Ethiopia.
He called on all his subjects to unite
and cooperate for the defense of the
country, saying he would lead the
troops into war. He appealed to all
not to fear death.
Our ancestors" he shouted. pre-
served their independence by sacri-
ficing their lives. Follow their ex-
ample!
God will be our fortress and shield
and the modern armament of aggres-
sors cannot deter our duty, which is
sacred for Ethiopian independence.
Reviews Long Dispute.
Reviewing Ethiopia's past relations
with Italy and the events from the
skirmish at Ualual last December until
now, the Emperor described Ethiopia's s
efforts for a peaceful settlement OF
the dispute and also similar efforts by
the British which, he said, Premier
Mussolini of Italy had ''brutally re-
jected."
He said the fact that italian mill
tary preparations were continuing
proved Italy's intention to conquer
Ethiopia forcibly and said the danger
of war was evident despite the fact
that Ethiopia was profoundly irnbIed
with respect for promises and the
sanctity of treaties.
He said Ethiopia did not wish war.
but would defend herself to the last
man If attacked.
He said Ethiopia did not desire
hegemony and did not menace her
neighbors, but was mistress of her
own country and would fight to the
bitter end defending her integrity,
independence and sovereignty.
The Emperor declared that Italian
intentions to use modern scientific
weapons of warfare would meet with
the resistance of all his subjects.
Halle Selassie declared: Soldiers,
when on the battlefield you learn the
death of your beloved and respected
chief, who has fallen in the defense
of liberty, do not weep and do not
despair but think of those who die
for the fatherland as happy mortals!
Appeals to All Groups.
Soldiers, traders, peasants, young
and old men and women unite and
cooperate for the defense of the
country.
las in the past, women will hero
ically participate in the defense of
the country. encouraging the soldiers
and treating the wounded.
Regardless of faiths, all will face
the invader in common unity, thwart-
ing the efforts of Italy to create
discord between Christians and Mo-
hammedans.
Your sovereign, now speaking, will
be among you unhesitatingly to spill
al his blood for independence"
He repeatedly stressed that Ethiopia
does not want war and is desirous of
following the ways of peace mentioned
In the Kellogg BRAND pact. He said
his appeal to the United States under
that pact and the initiation of final
steps by the League of Nations Coun-
Gil was proof of this desire.
IF our repeated efforts for good
will fail, our conscience is clear and
the Ethiopian people, united, can con-
fidently stretch their hands to God.
who will defend the just cause of our
country, upholding the heroic courage
OF our soldiers in a battle for inde-
pendence."
Brings Tears and Applause.
Many in the audience burst into
tears when the Emperor made his ref
erence to his possible death on the
battlefield. The rest of his fiery ad-
dress was met with enthusiasm, ap-
plause and shouting.
At the close of the speech, the
Somsli chief of Ogaden Province rose
up and spoke in Arabic, translated
into Amharic, Ethiopia's state Ian
guage, pledging his loyalty and the
loyalty of his people to Halle Selassie.
and promising in the name Of all
Mohammedans their faithfulness and
their willingness to fight to the last
man.
He shouted: "Long live the EN-
peror and Ethiopial"
The Coptic Christian archbishop,
Abouna Kyrilos, the head of the
Ethiopian Church, solemnly preached
to the assembly, admonishing unity
IN the defense of the country. He
told his listeners not to fear death,
and assured them that God was with
the Ethiopians.
In the course Of his address. Halle
Eelassie said that Mussolini had in
suited Ethiopia by saying her bar
barity excludes peaceful solution
and that Italy desired through So
called "civilizing mission" to settle
witt. blood the Italian defeat at Adua
In 1895.
The Emperor asserted Ethiopia was
not the provocation at Adra, but that,
rather, she had merely resisted lava
sion there and had won, but still did
not reap ell the advantages she could
have gained since she did not expand
her territory through that victory.
A vast gathering Of Parliament
members, tribal chieftians, state dig
nitaries and military and clericaA
1eaders had assembled for the eagerly
awaited pronouncement.