The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-09-24
REGARD WAR
AS CERTAIN
TO COME
Movement Of British
Fleet In Mediterranean
Watched Closely
BY H. r. KNICKERBOCKER
Copyright, 1888, by International
News SeryiCe)

News Service)
Adds ABA, Sept. "a
IN.S0.-Thirty-Six hours have
passed without rain in Adds
Ababa for the first time in seven
months, and today, just four days
from the zero hour, even the
binding brilliance of the equato-
rial sunshine could not dissipate
the shadow of war.
The latest events in Europe
have by no means impressed Adds
Ababa with the idea that the
wars off"
According to opinion here, none
of the essential elements has
changed, and the only important
event of the last fortnight was
the movement of the British fleet
in the Mediterranean.
Support Doubted
1t is still feared that the French
will not support Britain with any,
thing but words, and Britain will
not attempt sanctions against
Italy alone. AS one authority
put it:
There are three limbs on this
tree. France is halfway out on
one, and England is twO-thirdS
out on one. But Italy is all the
way out, hanging by her teeth"
This view in Adds Ababa Is
but slightly qualified by Premier
Mussolini's most recent actions.
It is considered important that
Mussolini has consented to talk at
all, but it is pointed out that his
own minimum requirements are
so extravaganza as to give no evil
dence that his demands can be re-
duced to proportions acceptable
here.
Diplomatic Move.
The difficulties of the Ethio-
plan government have been enor-
mously increased by the dearth
Of information from abroad.
The Committee of Five's propos-
ais, delivered to the Ethiopian
delegation at Geneva Saturday,
took four days in transmission,
and the last section was only re-
ceived here today.
The entire text, in code, con-
tains seven sections. It is stated
here that the Ethiopian delega-
ton in Geneva was empowered
and did accept the proposals with
reservations.
This was purely a diplomatic
move to throw the responsibility
back to Mussolini.
Now that the outline of his own
demands have been rejected by
the League committee, his next
move, according to opinion here,
will probably take the form of a
frontier incident, in which an al
legged attack by Ethiopian troops
will be followed by the opening of
the Italian campaign.
Indulge in Feasts
Meanwhile, the Ethiopians are
1ndulging in continuous series
Of small feasts in preparation for
the biggest feast of the year:
Maskal and Gebbur, Friday and
Saturday, marking the end of the
rains.
The Ethiopian population has
no anxiety whatever about the
impending war. but the ordinary
soldiers look forward to it as a
welcome chance to fight and
plumber.
The streets of Adds Ababa to-
day swarm with trotting warriors,
and the baZaars are damned.
Life reviveS as the rains cease,
like the end of winter in America.
Emperor Halle Selassie, max
ing every effort to accomplish re-
forms and meet foreign criticism,
today tremendously opened a
new Jail to replace the ancient
one where. by tradition, living
prisoners were chained to the
dead.
The diplomatic corps attended
the jail opening, top-hatted min
listers gravely following the
emperor on an inspection tour of
the cells in the octagonal con-
crete structure.
Accommodating 500, the Jail is
situated three miles from the
city. It is considerably cleaner
and more comfortable than the
best hotels in Adds Ababa.
Riding in his silver and purple
motor-car, with a footman's box
built on the rear, the emperor re-
ceived an ovation from thousands
lining the road.