Evening star., 1935-10-07
BY JOHN JAY DAILY.


Military men in America and the
world over have their eyes fixed on
maps of Ethiopia, each non-partici-
pant longing for opportunity to watch
the italian army in operation.
From time immemorial, active armies
in warfare have extended to neutral
nations the privilege of sending mill
tary observers. accompanying various
units-to watch the fighting.
Up to the present moment. accord
ing to information obtained from the
War Department, there are nc
American military observers with the
Italian army now operating on
Ethiopian soil However, American
military men would give a great deal
for the privilege Of seeing how modern
motorized transportation works for
the Italians.
There is not so much interest in the
aeronautical display What the world
armies now want to know is: How
will modern motorized transportation
measure up in a wild country like
Ethiopia? Especially after heavy
rains"
French Successes Noted.
In the Spring maneuvers, the French
army tried out its modern light tanks
under trying circumstances and found
them infinitely better than the horse
drawn caissons of the field artillery.
Every nation in the world has gone
for the newer mode of transportation
with America, according to high Army
officials, still bit in the background.
AS one retired Army officer put it.
1--WE are still buying horses and paying
millions of dollars for forage-while
the rest of the armies Of the world
have gone in for motorized transpor-
tation."
AS Italy is the first great Western
power to wage actual combat since
the World War, military men Of all
nations are anxious to learn the re-
suits of ultra modern warfare The
world. in this respect. has advanced
by gigantic steps since the ending OF
hostilities in November. 1918.
SlldAlSCo dICy 1lO"CtN1. IlO IlllllIdI y
observers will be permitted to follow
the wake of the Italian arm..
War Not Declared.
Military men, in advancing this
idea, point to the technical question
No declaration of war. Italy has not
declared war, as yet. They also point
to an analogy between the present
Ethiopian campaign and that waged
by Japan in Manchuria.
Japan did not then invite military
observers from other countries to &C
company the Japanese armies. MOI
did America in the campaign against
the Filipino insurrectionists. A third
example is given in the Boer War
Great Britain did not invite military
observers from other countries to
watch the ousting of Dom Paul and
his cohorts.
So the Italians have many prece-
dents for their heSitancy, so far, to
invite military men of the nations to
watch their handiwork in modern
warfare-even though it may not be
called, technically, war.
In the World War, as one army
officer put it, all the neutral world
was invited to send military observers
to watch the workings of the Allied
war machine. There was reason
for that. 1t showed a magnanimous
spirit. It let the wide world, outside
of the central powers, know that the
Allies had nothing to hide-that they
were waging . warfare to make the
world safe for democracy. So all de-
mocracy was invited to attend, in one
way or another; either as participants
or as military observers.
Much Equipment Outmoded.
Methods of warfare have advanced
to such stage that some of the equip
ment used in the World War is out
moded. Not only some, but most of it,
must go by the boards. This is espe-
cially true in the aeronautics branch.
Naturally, military men want to see
the new equipment in movement.
From the Italian Embassy. the Office
of Lieut.. Col. Vincenzo Coppola, air
and military attache, no definite word
could be gained about military OBJ
servers.
Col. Coppola said he had no infor-
nation on this subject: that he did
not know If any military observers
from other countries than the United
States were with the Italian armies.
American news correspondents with
the Italian Army have been given the
courtesy of travelling with the general
staff, at general headquarters. So
far as American military men are
concerned, they see this as their only
hope-to watch the maneuvers through
the eyes Of trained war correspondents.
Some of the best in the business are
there on the spot. Their dispatches
will tell, eventually, it is hoped. just
what showing modern motorized trans
portation makes against extremely
difficult odds.
Odds Against Observers.
The odds are against military OBJ
servers accompanying Mussolini's
army. First of all. this is not a right
but courtesy-and one extended only
during a formal war.
AS there is no formal warfare. the
observation posts are vacant. Also, If
the various nations declare sanctions
against Italy-that would also throw
cold water on the possibility Of mill
tary observers going with the advanc.
ing army into Ethiopia.
"You must remember" an old Arm!