, 1935-10-22

south nevertheless should lead d.
rectly up 10 the Webbe Shibell river
valley to the strategic city of Harar,
the Adds Ababi-D jibOuti railway
and the troop concentration point
Of Dessye.
Emperor Halle Selassie was be-
heved 10 have felt that he could
not afford to waste any more time in
making his defenSes secure and
therefore decided to move his i'm
pertal guard I'D Dessye.
As the 5000 men Of Ethiopia's only
crack regiment took the Dessye road.
mothers and children who babe fare
well To the khRki-clad warriors from
the summit OF Mount Entoto trud-
ged silently back 20 the capital.
wondering whether the men ever
would return TO squat in their fav-
ortte bazaars again
American doughboys probably
never tolerated the extreme condi-
lions which the Ethiopian soldiers
bear Smilingly.
Reared IN rugged mountain land
where only the most fit survive,
Ethiopian soldiers undergo an exis-
tence Which-whether in war 0r In
peace-is one long battle against
death.
Fever. parasitical diseases, infec-
ti0us maladieS, famine and exposure
aSsail them from all sides.
Doctors. nurses. bandages, medi-
cines and even beds are virtually
unknown
The troops rival the Spartans OF
cid IN their privations and sacrifices.
ii wounded seriously. they die ON
the spot where they fall unless COM
radeS rescue them from death or
from the lackals and hyenas which
prowl BY night.
In camp. Ethiopian warriors sleep
as many as seven to ten IN a single
deg tent At the front. they sleep on
the earth, covered only by hides.
Lacking any entertainment, they
retire nc shutdown and arise at day
break. Their only light Is furnished
by torches dipped in oil or wax.
When they can afford Al they have
an occasional camp fire. They do not
sit too close TO II, as they want to
fortify themselves against the rig
ors TO which they are constantly ex-
posed.
As the Ethiopian army has no
commiSsary. one principal activity
Of the soldiers Is fcraging for food.
They are assisted by their wives and
servants, who follow the armies like
hosts Of locusts, stripping the coun-
tryside Of all edibles.
The women help cook, care for the
wounded, carry water. pitch tents
and are often seen battling In the
front lines.
The first activity of the day Ia
reading the Psalms OF David. Liter
ate EthiOpianS invariably carry
small leather bags in which are held
David's canticles. printed on an
Gent parchments
The soldiers know most passages
by heart and retire To isolated cor
ners Of their camps TO muTmur the
psalms ~reverently to themselves.
The soldiers are fond OF martial
songs which they sing throughout
the day.
Before entering battle. the war
ricrs purge themselves not only
spiritually but physically, because
they believe they must be purified
II they wish 10 enter Heaven.
All camps have priests. Many fight
beside the soldiers. especially nov
that the Ethiopians consider their
conflict with the Italians a Holy war
after the capture Of the sacred city
OF Aksum on the Northern front.
After the battle. there is always
much Incorporating and drinking
The principal drink OF the soldiers
Is talla- or barley beer. The Officers
prefer tel. or honey-mead wine.
The principal equipment for the
Ethiopian soldiers is a long. SASH
like belt extending from the thigh
to the chest and usually 40 or DC
feet long. Made OF gauze like ma
terial. II Is useful in bandagine
wounds but Is more frequently used
% suppress hunger by Tightening II
about the stomach. III also supports
heavy cartridge belts.
The average Ethiopian warrior Il
fatallstic. He believes death is m cues.
ton OF predestination and thinks
II does not matter whether a maj
dies at the age Of 20 or 90.
But he prefers 90 die on the bat.
tlefield, rather than from disease
considering 1t the highest honor *
I die IN rnrnhaf