Evening star., 1936-05-17
AMERICAN FIRMS SEEK
WEALTH OF ETHIOPIA
Lose No Time Attempting to Invest
Capital in Africa-Italy's War
Spirit Held Unlikely to Die.

more efficient than either the French
or the British dark troops. They have
shown in the present campaign that,
properly led and well equipped. they
can become formidable cannon fodder.
And since there is no national feeling
in Ethiopia, but only tribal pride. Mus
solini and his African generals are
convinced that within short time
Italy might be able to count on the
Ethiopian legions on the eventual Eu-
ropean battlefields.
Observers in Washington and abroad
concur in the belief that Mussolini
wants to recreate the old Roman En-
pire in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He wants that sea to become again
an Italian lake. To do this, Libya
must be connected with Ethiopia by
way of Khartoum, in the Anglo
Egyptian Sudan.
Mussolini's protestations that he
does not intend to interfere with the
British interests are not taken liter
ally either in London or in Wash
ington. They may have been sincere
when they were made, but Mussolini
has tasted blood and now has infinite
confidence in the ability of his people
to do everything he asks of them.
Leaving out the troops which are
in Ethiopia, there are at this time
no less than 1880 900 men under
arms in Italy. In addition to these,
there are over 4,50o, 900 organized re-
serves, 800, 900 trained blackshirts and
100000 unframed Fascists. No less
than 100000 Of these men could be
under arms and ready to fight within
so days after the general mobilization
has been decreed.
Arms Factories Busy.
Italy's ammunition factories are
working overtime. Just to illustrate
the capacity of Italy,s arms factories.
it is sufficient to mention that de-
spite the sanctions they are produc-
ing every month 100000 rifles, l,450
machine guns, 1900 guns Of all cali
bers.
On February 20 the Supreme Com
mission of Defense issued the follow
ing communique to the nation: THE
traditional opinion concerning our
poverty in natural resources and our
consequent restricted political action
has been shown to be entirely un-
founded. The action carried out by
the government during the past 13
years has liberated the nation from
the most important war bondages.'
And the interesting part of that COM
munique Is that it represents the
truth. The well-being and the COM
fort of the individual have been sac
rified to the interest Of the state-as
Mussoiini conceives it. Like the Ger
mans, the Italians have been pull
ing in their belts, have given up eat
ing meat and using sugar, put patches
on their trousers and are wearing
their shoes to shreds. but their tanks.
their airplanes, their submarines and
their guns are the last word of mod
ern technique. ~tt'
II Duce, like most successful men,
cannot distinguish between foes and
friends. Hence, he Is taking no
chances and suspects everybody.
This can be seen from the distribu-
ton of his modified armies The one
million and quarter men who are
now under arms are divided between
the northern, the eastern and the
western fronts. Facing France there
are IL divisions distributed from
.Piacenza to Turin and from Imperia
on the Mediterranean to Navara.,
Explains Action to French.
In order not to offend the suscepti-
bilities of the French, II Duce took
good care to explain to Ambassador
de Chambrun that their presence on
the French border was due to the
facilities offered by that section of
italy The French government, said
II Duce, need place no political
significance on the presence of the
army there.
Eight divisions of Italy's best troops
have been posted at the gate Of
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