ROME WARNS DELAY LIKELY
BECAUSE OF TORRENTIAL RAINS
Italians Advancing Along Shoa-Meda Plain
On Last Stage Of Their March To Addis
ROME, May 2, 1936 - Italian troops are advancing along the great Shoa-Meda plain northeast of Addis Ababa on the last stage of their march to the capital, authoritative dispatches from the front said today.
Their advance was delayed by rains, which sent torrents across their path, and officials warned against excessive optimism as to the hour or day in which the city would fall. Officials said they didn't believe the report that the Emperor had fled, but were confident he would go westward.
Popular Fascist eagerness to celebrate a climax to the seven-month-old war burst in many cities last night. Unconfirmed reports that Italian troops had entered Addis Ababa precipitated widespread demonstrations.
Operation of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad was reported suspended, and another report, which would please the Italians if true, was that the crown prince, after leaving the city with his father, had turned back to surrender the capital personally to Marshal Badoglio.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Selassie Flees
SELASSIE FLEES CAPITAL
WITH WHITES IN PERIL
Foreigners Hope For Italian Arrival
To Save Them From Savage Hordes
LONDON, May 2, 1936 - Foreigners in Addis Ababa took refuge behind the barbed wire entanglements of the British legation today, in imminent danger of an attack by warriors enraged at the Italian victory.
Emperor Haile Selassie left his capital with his family by train for Djibouti, French Somaliland, fleeing from Italian troops nearing Addis. Looting and shooting broke out in the city.
The British legation is defended by five machine guns and a little company of 250 Sikh infantrymen, the pick of the British Indian army, under British officers. The legation has sufficient food to withstand a siege for three months.
Commercial wireless communication with Addis Ababa was severed without warning this morning, soon after the capital's station opened for business.
News of the imminent danger to foreigners was transmitted in a dispatch from Sir Sidney Barton, British minister to the foreign office, over the legation wireless.
It was understood that Barton expected the Italians in Addis Ababa tomorrow. Each mile that they advanced gave fresh fire to the fury of the thousands of defeated warriors in the capital area.
The Emperor has requested permission to reside with his family in Palestine, Sir Sidney Barton later informed his government. It was understood that the foreign office has inquired of the French government whether it will permit the Emperor and his family to embark at Djibouti for Palestine.
The Ethiopian legation here refused to believe the Emperor had left for Djibouti for Palestine.
An embassy statement said: "It is more likely that he is escorting the Empress and their five children to safety while proceeding himself to some point, possibly Harar, to reorganize the defence forces. We have not received information from our government justifying the assumption that the Emperor is going to Djibouti. Such actions would be unlike his majesty."
Flight of the Emperor reached London as a surprise since it had been expected generally he would go west to Mendi in Wollega province and conduct a guerilla campaign against the Italians. It was pointed out his departure on the Djibouti train didn't necessarily mean he would go to Djibouti and that he again might go into hiding.
The British considered that if Emperor Haile Selassie reached Djibouti he would no longer be regarded as emperor of Ethiopia, although he didn't abdicate before he left. However, they declared the policy of peace negotiated on the framework of the League of Nations still must be pursued. There was no confirmation of reports the emperor was going to either Geneva or London.
There are now 1,000 British subjects left there, mostly Indians and Somalis.There are about 20 or 30 whites.
En route to Djibouti, the Emperor would pass only 25 miles north of Harar, the objective of the swift drive of the Italians in the eastern theatre of the war.
The Emperor accompanied by Empress Menen, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen and his entire family, Foreign Minister Blattengueta Herouy, Ras Kassa, commander of the shattered northern forces and several other officials were also aboard.
Departure of the Emperor was interpreted in British official quarters as the collapse of organized resistance to the Italian invasion, which foreigners had hoped would be maintained to the very end.
The Emperor talked with Sir Sidney Barton before his departure. It stated the British hadn't invited nor suggested the Negus attend the meeting of the League of Nations' council at Geneva May 11, 1936. It's believed he might take refuge on British soil.
At the outbreak of war seven months ago, it was estimated that 125 Americans were in Ethiopia, of whom 113 were missionaries.
WITH WHITES IN PERIL
Foreigners Hope For Italian Arrival
To Save Them From Savage Hordes
LONDON, May 2, 1936 - Foreigners in Addis Ababa took refuge behind the barbed wire entanglements of the British legation today, in imminent danger of an attack by warriors enraged at the Italian victory.
Emperor Haile Selassie left his capital with his family by train for Djibouti, French Somaliland, fleeing from Italian troops nearing Addis. Looting and shooting broke out in the city.
The British legation is defended by five machine guns and a little company of 250 Sikh infantrymen, the pick of the British Indian army, under British officers. The legation has sufficient food to withstand a siege for three months.
Commercial wireless communication with Addis Ababa was severed without warning this morning, soon after the capital's station opened for business.
News of the imminent danger to foreigners was transmitted in a dispatch from Sir Sidney Barton, British minister to the foreign office, over the legation wireless.
It was understood that Barton expected the Italians in Addis Ababa tomorrow. Each mile that they advanced gave fresh fire to the fury of the thousands of defeated warriors in the capital area.
The Emperor has requested permission to reside with his family in Palestine, Sir Sidney Barton later informed his government. It was understood that the foreign office has inquired of the French government whether it will permit the Emperor and his family to embark at Djibouti for Palestine.
The Ethiopian legation here refused to believe the Emperor had left for Djibouti for Palestine.
An embassy statement said: "It is more likely that he is escorting the Empress and their five children to safety while proceeding himself to some point, possibly Harar, to reorganize the defence forces. We have not received information from our government justifying the assumption that the Emperor is going to Djibouti. Such actions would be unlike his majesty."
Flight of the Emperor reached London as a surprise since it had been expected generally he would go west to Mendi in Wollega province and conduct a guerilla campaign against the Italians. It was pointed out his departure on the Djibouti train didn't necessarily mean he would go to Djibouti and that he again might go into hiding.
The British considered that if Emperor Haile Selassie reached Djibouti he would no longer be regarded as emperor of Ethiopia, although he didn't abdicate before he left. However, they declared the policy of peace negotiated on the framework of the League of Nations still must be pursued. There was no confirmation of reports the emperor was going to either Geneva or London.
There are now 1,000 British subjects left there, mostly Indians and Somalis.There are about 20 or 30 whites.
En route to Djibouti, the Emperor would pass only 25 miles north of Harar, the objective of the swift drive of the Italians in the eastern theatre of the war.
The Emperor accompanied by Empress Menen, Crown Prince Asfa Wossen and his entire family, Foreign Minister Blattengueta Herouy, Ras Kassa, commander of the shattered northern forces and several other officials were also aboard.
Departure of the Emperor was interpreted in British official quarters as the collapse of organized resistance to the Italian invasion, which foreigners had hoped would be maintained to the very end.
The Emperor talked with Sir Sidney Barton before his departure. It stated the British hadn't invited nor suggested the Negus attend the meeting of the League of Nations' council at Geneva May 11, 1936. It's believed he might take refuge on British soil.
At the outbreak of war seven months ago, it was estimated that 125 Americans were in Ethiopia, of whom 113 were missionaries.
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