Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-18
Italians Making
Rapid Progress
I'm New Province

Adds ABaBA. WP)-Fthionian
resistance rapidly is approaching
the vanishing point as the new year
starts.
Long columns of italian troops are
SWINGING southwark along the lakes,
others are cutting through TO the
borders of the SUDDEN. still Others
are going toward Jimma to occupy
The rich coffee lands including the
province of Kaffa from which cof-
fee cot its name. while two other
columns are proceeding slowly
toward Cancer in the east and Bali
in the southeast.
S1uadrons of bombers are daily
flying over the regions which have
not vet submitted, demonstrating
the power of Italy to any one who
NAV be in doubt.
Not one organized Ethiopian force
now opposes these troops. The few
remaining groups have been smash
ed and their leaders killed. Now
the scattering bands of brigands are
retreating and returning to more
peaceful occupations.
Natives Abandon Opposition
Natives say guerilla bands have
topped killing and do little steal
ing. All shrug their shoulders and
rumble:
The Emperor deserted us. Why
should we fight for him and get
killed for nothing?"
Impaired observers believe the
italians will find they have peace
ful empire much sooner than they
expected. The Ethiopian is utter
" incapable of sustained effort.
That fact has been demonstrated
time after time in the history of
the country. 1t was repeated dur
ing the war and it is probable that
It will be seen again. Their volatile
temperament might cause them to
rise up in rebellion occasionally if
they had little respect for the gov
ernment. But the fear of Marshal
Graziani is well engraved on the
minds of the people.
All Know Graziani
Graziani embodies the power of
Rome in the minds of the people
and there is not a beggar on the
streets who doesn't know his name.
It has been affirmed officially
that peace reigns in all provinces
occupied during the last rainy sea-
son and that guerilla groups are
only found in scattered parts OF
the country. But they will only ex-
ist for a short time.
Legions of workers follow the
armies. Work is being actively
pushed on the Dessye-Addis, Des-
sve-Assab. Tacazze- -Gondar, Adds
Dire Daua and Addis-Lekempti
roads. June l is expected to see
all of these completed and year
later all are likely to be "all wealth.
ar" roads.
Native Labor Used
Because of the desire of the gov
eminent to finish these works so
the country may be opened to trade
and immigration, native labor is
being used where white laborers are
lacking. It is planned, however, to
use natives only in the regions too
hot for white men continuously to
labor. In these districts whites will
direct and natives will work. In
the high crisp attitudes whites will
work for the government and do
her own work themselves.
The greatest sign that peace is
returning to the land is the planting
Of crops and revival of caravan traf-
tic. The corps, normally planted
afteps the rainy season, are being
own as usual. Formerly the wind
ing caravans are beginning to plod
he trails, bearing coffee, cotton,
hides apd grain to the markets and
taking back loads of cloth and
mick -knacks to delight the hearts
and stomachs of those at home.
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