Evening star., 1936-01-20
Rome Advised of Location of
Units ''in Light of Re-
cent Events"
AKSUM, MAKALE SIEGE
BY ETHIOPIA REPORTED
Mussolini Charges Foe Violates
Convention With Atrocities on
Dead and Wounded.

fUith maintaining dominant posi-
ton in Mediterranean and Africa.
Britain has mdSsed ndU1l strength
in matters of Gibraltar and Aler-
andria and concentrated troops
and planes in Egypt.
Italy, inpading Ethiopia, also has
placed strong fighting force in
Libya. In Ethiopia, II Duce's most
spectacular successes" on northern
front IN recent Weeks has been
scored by air units. In early De-
cember. bOmbers damaged Ameri-
can hospital at Dessye. Later,
Red Cross units maintained by
Sweden and Egypt were attacked.
Last meek. Italy claimed Uictory
on southern front. but tnuaders in
north remained at StdndStill.
BY the Associated Press.
yelled warning to Mussolini not
to bomb British Red Cross units in
Ethiopia was seen today in British
advices to Rome of the location Of
those units at the front.
An authoritative London source re-
vealed that Maurice Ingram. British
charge d'af1aires in Rome. called on
Fulvio Suvich. Italian undersecretary
for foreign affairs. last Saturday and
politely called his attention to the
exact location of the British Red
Cross units which reached Dessye last
week
The first Official British unit was to
have gone to the Ogaden front, but
Ingram told Suvich of the change in
plans "in order that there may be no
misunderstanding"
Recent Occurrences Cited.
Ingram explained that the informa-
ton was being given the Italian gov
ernment in case it was not already
known to the military authorities in
East Africa and in the belief they
would be glad to know, lin the light
Of recent occurrences" the units
exact position. The recent occur
rences" were understood to refer TO
the bombings of Swedish and Amer.
lean hospitals in the war zone.
The League of Nations Committee
of l3 decided today the question Of
sending a commission of inquiry to
Ethiopia and financial assistance for
that nation were not opportune ana
were Furthermore, outside the COM
potency of the committee.
Both questions had been raised by
Emperor Halle Selassie. He had asked
for the commission to determine
whether Italy or Ethiopia was really
responsible for the present war in
East Africa. He also had asked for
material aid in the shape of financial
support.
Report to Council Voted.
The committee members voted to
draft a report to the Council con-
tanning their decision
It vas also indicated that while
the committee was ready to exercise
its good Offices for conciliation, no
other proposals weer before it at the
present time.
The committee decided that sane
tions we're entirely matter for the
Committee OF l3. appointed for that
particular purpose.
Premier Mussolini Of Italy sent q
telegram to Max Huber of the Inter-
national Red Cross, announcing that
Italy hoped a Red Cross committee
would be sent to the war zone to de-
termine If and how the regulations OF
the Red Cross convention were being
observed.
Mussolini denounced the Ethiopian
troops as violating the Geneva and
Red Cross convention "by horrible
atrocities upon the dead and wounded
Italian prisoners in defiance of the
elementary principles of civilization
and humanity"
While the Committee of 13 did not
approve Of sending a commission to
Ethiopia, 1t was believed by many
observer that, in view of Mussolini's
telegram, some kind of Red Cross
committee may go.
Official and unofficial announce
ments of Ethiopian military successes
against Italians and rebels were made
through Adds Ababa officials today.
One high source stated that both
Makale and Aksum key points OF the
Italian northern front, were virtually
surrounded by thousands of Ethiopian
troops.
Rebels Reported Defeated.
A communique announced that the
rebels Of Gojjam Province. under
Ded jazmatch Gasasa, had been de-
feated in a battle miles from Debra
Markos.
MANY rebels were slain and half
of them taken prisoners" said the
communique, but Gasasa escaped with
two servants"
The forces Of Ras Ayale, former
bandit. were said to be only 80 miles
from Aksum. but possible entrance
(See WAR. Page 81