Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30

Continued From Third Page)
Rome and Berlin. He limited that he
might be driven-by Franco-B British
opposition in Africa-to making a deal
with Hitler. 1t is possible that Hitler
would recognize the Bremen Pass as
the Italo-German frontier in return
for Italian neutrality vis-a-vis Aus
TRAN independence. Hitler found it
convenient to forget the hated Polish
Corridor for similar concession and
he can easily do with the Bremen Pass
for a decade. Furthermore. British
Intelligence reports that the Germans
have been extremely active in Abys-
sinia lately, both politically and eco
nomically. If Germany and Italy
were to go to war the Germans could
strike a wicked blow at their enemies
in Africa. The Ethiopian Emperor
would not be averse to driving the
Italians away from his Somaliland and
Eritrean doorsteps and gaining access
to the Red Sea. If those colonies were
lost all Musoslini would have left would
be few square miles of burning sands
in Tripolitana and the Pigments of a
colonial dream.
In Abyssinia itself the difficulties the
Italians will have to overcome are
gigantic. Campaigning under adverse
geographical, climatic, sanitary condi-
tons will tax the ingenuity Of the
Fascist general staff. Airplanes and
tanks and heavy artillery will be
worthless in jungle and desert cam
paigning, or on the high plateau which
constitutes the greatest stronghold OF
the Ethiupians. Furthermore, If the
Abyssinians are not the aggressors,
they would have no difficulty in get
ting laid and comfort" and plentiful
war supplies from European powers
and Germany and Japan. The Turks,
Greeks and Balkan states have no love
for Mussolini and would be glad to see
him stub his toe" in Africa. Reliable
reports indicate that the expeditionary
forces already have encountered seri-
GUS obstacles and they have not yet
started their penetration.
Difficulties at Home.
At home. too, there is reason to
believe that all is not bright for II
Duce. At Milan, according to eye
witnesses, the Black Shirt militia and
local police had to be called out to
keep reservists and conscripts on the
troop trains. Several executions
for mutiny have been reported and
the Fascist press itself prints stories
of many arrests of intellectusls, ex-
Socialists and pacifists on the charge
of obstruction" and 'endangerine
the interests of the state"
Industrial and financial circles are
opposed to the enormous expenditure
entailed. They cannot accept Mus
solini's assurance that it will be 9
six-month campaign. They point tt
Italy's previous experiences. to the
French difficulties in the Riff anc
SPANS Moroccan campaign, which
cost King Alfonso his throne.
The regular army, too, is said to bt
hostile, believing that Mussolin
should conserve his strength for s
possible crisis on the continent. Gen
Balbo, Italy's premier airman and ali
marshal, is reported to have curly
declined the honor of leading al
armadas over the Abyssinian jungles
He wants to be ready to inherit I
Duce's toga If it falls from his shout.
ders.
| Economically the African adven
! ture Is fraught with consequences
The officially admitted cost is 200,'
000. 900 lire per month. The forced