Evening star., 1935-08-04
BY MARCELLE PRAT.

oy MAIL W LC old4
ADOWA, Ethiopia IN. A. N. A).-
was to be received by Prince Ras
Seyoum. 1t was raining cats and
dogs. According to the consul's wife
we must put on evening gowns.
Evening gowns, in this weather, and
then to travel on the backs of our
mules, that we might dine with his
highness.
One did not break etiquette, and
was compelled to yield. But. seated
on my streaming animal, my back
bent to the fail of rain, the silk of
my dress sticking to my legs, cursed
| etiquette.
Surrounded by the troops Of his
highness bearing torches in their
hands, we made our pitiful way among
the cutters of Adowa.
A door. More doors! Doors of in
finite number. The palace of Prince
Seyoum hid itself behind a labyrinth
of walls. Soldiers helped us out Of
the saddle. We sought the shelter of a
door and were pushed into small
room, room completely swathed in
white muslin.
Wiring Clothes Dry.
Servants rubbed us down and dried
us of with busters, washing the hens
Of our robes and wringing them dry.
This done, they announced that his
royal highness awaited lis
We followed the bedizened fellow
who led us to the audience room, a
great whitewashed room in which
there was nothing save two armchairs
placed there for us and a sort of
throne on which sat two motionless
figures.
The consul's wife, her hand over her
heart, bowed to earth. initiated her.
Thereupon we took our places in the
armchairs.
The princess was completely in
white satin. A fine muslin veil rested
on her head, kept in place from mo-
ment to moment by the black hands
of servant, as the wind caught it, or
it began to slide. I understood that
that form of dress had not changed
since the time of the Queen of Sheba.
The prince was similarly clothed in
white. Their heads did not move in
the slightest; only their eyes turned in
their sockets to look at me.
"OficiaI Fly Chaser"
Drinks were brought, and with them
came a giant carrying an enormous
horse-tail. He took up his position
confronting the prince and princess
and began to crack that horse-tail
like whip. I was told that this per-
son was the official fiy-chaser."
My conversation with the prince was
naturally through an interpreter. He
began by asking me questions.
"You come from Asrnara. We are
indebted to you for conveying the
kindly thoughts of the French so far
as here. But in the colony-what is
happening?"
Il am sure, highness, that you are
better informed than I. But what do
you think of the present state of
affairs?"
"The future is in the hands of God.
His will will be done. We fear moth
ing. The Almighty has always pro-
tected Ethiopia. It is written that
Ethiopia shall endure as an inde-
pendent realm"
But on the matter of preparations
How are you organizing?"
The victor of 80 battles smiled.
Every Man Armed.
Europeans and Africans do not look
at war from the same angle. You
need to drill your soldiers, to build up
an army. With us, the whole country
is armed. Each peasant has one, per-
haps two or three rifles, and cartridges.
They can be bought in the market.
Every man is a soldier. 1t is neces-
sary only to give the word, to light
one beacon and Ethiopia rises.
"As for preparation, what is the
use? The disaster of Adowa will be
repeated for the. Italians. All their
new ideas, their modern strategy will
fall like house Of cards in the thick
cts of our country. Only one thing
counts in war: Tactics, surprise.
This war will be conflict between
two systems, the old and the new. 1t
will be great war!
But, with the help of God we are
confident Ethiopia will not lose her
independence. Everything conspires
in our favor, including nature, and you
will see the white armies dying of
malaria, thirst and hunger while we,
on our own soil, shall be able to carry
on.
"But airplanes?" interjected.
Planes VS.. Grottoes.
Aviation? That Is useful to de-
stroy cities, but we have so few towns
even, and so many caverns, grottoes.
No, believe me. when the whole Of
Ethiopia takes the march against q
handful Of men, even armed TO the