Evening star., 1935-10-13

OIuCldI O1SpatcneS ana letter OF Sir
Robert, later Lord Napier, who COM
manded the British expedition that
brought death and defeat to the Ethi-
opian monarch Of that day. Theodore
III. have a definite bearing on the
present situation. His difficulties and
dangers will be those Of the Italian
commander in chief The Italians
danger will be tenfold that of Napier.
Weakens Superiority.
The old argument of Italy's vastly
just as we'll be dealt with at once
A few weeks ago talked with the
British general who commanded the
| forces on the northwest frontier of
India last year. Both the air force
| and advanced mechaniZation of trans
! port and artillery have failed in use
| against the tribesman of the Afghan
border. Today Tommy Atkins marches
into action on his feet, just as he did
/ in 1867. The scarcity of roads put the
| three mechanical divisions out of ac-
/ ton on the northwest frontier, Just as
/ it will in Ethiopia.
/ Bombing raids by the royal air force
were carried out thoroughly on the
/ northwest frontier. The air force
/ thought it could handle the situation.
/ 1t was wrong. There was little use in
| bombing mountain peaks. True, viii
lagos and towns could be demolished,
but even this gained little or no ad-
vantage from a military point of view.
| Just as on the northwest frontier of
India the conquest of Ethiopia cannot
/ be made from the air. If the Italian
invasion succeeds, 1t will be done by
soldiers on two feet and transport ami
mails on four.
Realized Long Ago.
That was what Sir Robert Napier
realized 68 years ago when he was
asked to command force to go to the
rescue of Capt. Cameron, British en-
voy, and other Europeans who were
being held prisoners and tortured by
| the mad self-appointed King of Ethi-
opia at his mountain fortress-capita
! Magdala.
| Sir Robert Napier, then commander
! in chief at Bombay, was the son of an
/ artillery officer An engineer officer.
Napier was quick to realize the danger
of such campaign.
After careful consideration he chose
Annesley Bay, on the Red Sea. as his
landing base. in what is now Eritrea
Government buyers we're dispatched to
Spain, Italy, Egypt and India to COM
mence a drive for mules, the transport
animals to be collected at Suez.
To reach Magdala the British had
to climb over so miles Of mountain
passes. where mules could hardly gain
I foothold, $500 feet above sea level.
Then came a march Of $50 miles
across the great plateau to a height
! of over 10000 feet above sea level.
Water and forage during the greater
part of the journey had to be carried.
so barren was the country.
From Camp Adigrat the British
commander wrote to his wife, Lady
Napier, commencing his officers and
men and speaking of some Of the
hardships they were enduring. But
all are in good spirits" he wrote, land
have the nobleSt zeal equal to any
thing but starvation. We could starve
between two points if there was relief
at the end, but when the end is at
tanned and We are then to find no
resources, and to find our way back
again without anything to supply US,
opens a possibility on which I must
not venture"
Land Still Uninviting.
Today rocky, barren Ethiopia Is no
more inviting or hoSpitable than the
day Napier wrote those lines.
/ Today we read in press dispatches
Of hospital ships and transports be,,r-
ing homeward Italian soldiers who are
casualties Of the greatest enemies the
Ethiopian invader has to face-sick-
ness, extreme climate and bad water.
We also read of epidemics that have
ravaged the italian mule lines.
Napier commanded force of about
10000 men. landed on the hot shores
of the Red Sea. His final assault on
Magdala was made with only about
1000 men.
If had had more men they would
have starved or thirsted to DEATH"
Napier said. after the campaign.
To bring this force of 1000 nghting
men into action he used over 10000
transport animals, mules, elephants,
oonkeys, horses, camelS and bullocks.
That meant for each soldier l3 trans
port animals were used The Italians
have declared their intention of using
an army of 250,000 men in their in
vasion. Figure it out for yourselfI
Transport Vital.
From the outset the British com.
mander realized that success of the
expedition would hang on the eff
cheney OF his transport service. Every
effort was made to conserve not only
human life but the lives of his trans
port animals. All along that hazardous
| route veterinary officers were stationed
and if sick horse, mule or camel was
discovered in the transport train it
was Immediately hospitalized. Despite
these precautions. the casualties
amounted to over 1000 during years
| campaign.
Sir Robert Napier accomplished his
mission. he deleateo the forces OF the
mad King in pitched battle at Mag.
dala and freed the captives. but his
was very different problem from that
which faces an invading army today.
During that terrible march into
Magdala, sickness, disease, the almost
impossible roads and water shortage
were his only enemies. Until he came
within striking distance of the enemy
not one shot was fired at his troops.
The tribesmen refused to support the
mad monarch and his forces.
Fate Played Part.
Had Napier been forced to contend
with hostile tribes and continual
sniping at his transport colunlns, the
result could only too readily be
imagined. The expedition would have
failed.
That Is what Italian troops will
face with Ethiopia invaded from