Addia Ababa Falls Today – Haile Selassie Protected by France at Djibouti

Nevada State Journal, Mon, May 04, 1936 ·Pages 1-2

Haile Selassie protected by France at Djibouti

King of Kings and 20 Others Flee From Addis Ababa

DJIBOUTI, French Somaliland, May 8-(UP)-Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, who arrived here this afternoon with members of his family, will sail tomorrow morning on the British destroyer Diana for Aden, Arabia.

Late reports reaching here said all of Ethiopia not held by Italians except Diredawa was in chaos with powerful chiefs fighting for control.

Italian troops reportedly have smashed through Ras Nasibu’s army on the southern front to occupy Jijiga.

Emperor Halle Selassie was beaten by his own countrymen and not by the Italians, Edward Beattie, United Press staff correspondent at Addis Ababa until recently, says in the following dispatch. Beattie served at the Ethiopian capital longer than any other American correspondent.

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DJIBOUTI, French Somaliland, May 8.-(U.P)-Emperor Haile Selassie and members of the imperial family of Ethiopia, accompanied by leading generals and government officials, arrived here today.

They fled by train from Addis Ababa yesterday.

Pending decision as to their future movements they are guests at the palace of the governor of French Somaliland.

BRITISH DESTROYER ARRIVES

Although the British destroyer Diana has arrived here it is not believed the vessel will be boarded by the emperor.

The emperor, Empress Menen, Crown Prince Asfa Wosan, Prince Makonnen and Princess Tesahai arrived at 2:15 p.m. after abandoning their capital at Addis Ababa to a reign of terror.

Arriving with the Emperor were Ras Kassa, former commander of an Ethiopian northern army, Foreign Minister Herouy and his wife, Ras Desta Demtu, son-in-law of the emperor whose troops were defeated in southern Ethiopia, and others.

MILITARY HONORS

The imperial party included 21 men, women and children.

Djibouti was filled with French troops, whites and colonials, when the emperor and his suite arrived. Drastic precautions were taken against demonstrations.

At the railway station full military honors were accorded the fugitive King of Kings.

An Italian photographer attempted to photograph the imperial family. He was attacked and beaten by Eth-iopian bystanders but there were no repercussions to the incident.

TRIP, WITHOUT FOOD

Automobiles placed at their disposal by the French Somaliland government conveyed the fugitives to the palace. They said that during the trip from Addis Ababa they were without food.

From the railway station to the palace long lines of troops pushed back thousands of curious, struggling for a view of the Ethiopian refugees.

The emperor and those accompanying him were worn and haggard.

“They are in misery.” people lining the streets cried as the motor-cars carrying the imperial family sped past.

“SAD AND WEARY”

Upon arrival at the governor’ palace the emperor went into seclusion. He was seen only by French officials. His majesty expressed a desire to sleep.

When he left his train the emperor stood between his two sons. The empress, following the negus and the princes, was heavily veiled.

French officials who saw the empress at the governor’s palace said that “she was sad-faced and weary.”

She, in her white robes, was silent.

So was the emperor.

His majesty shook hands with the French governor and his chief military aides.

CROWN PRINCE SUBDUED

The empress scarcely noticed the throngs watching the arrival of the family representing one of the few remaining of the world’s absolute monarchies.

The fugitive emperor and his empress walked slowly between the guards provided by an alien power – France, whose language they speak.

French Senégalese troops stood at attention with fixed bayonets.

The crown prince, who has been accused of readiness to cast his lot with the Italians and become the puppet ruler of Ethiopia, was as mild as goose milk in the presence of his imperial parents.

ONLOOKERS WEEP

He stood with the imperial party in burning French Somaliland sunshine while women in the crowd, women of all nationalities, broke down and wept.

Onlookers, there as a matter of curiosity, also wept.

But the emperor was stoical. He drove off to a bed in the palace of a friendly nation, as though he were proceeding to an audience from his own throne.

British Concerned by Haile’s Fate; Continuation of Sanctions Demanded

LONDON, May 3.-(U.P.)-Great Britain today entered into urgent consultations with France to discuss the fate of the fugitive emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie.

The British are vitally interested also, in holding together the League of Nations sanctionist front against Italy.

Foreign Minister Pierre-Etienne Flandin of France has been asked to consider preparations for the May 11 League council meeting, with British Foreign Secretady Anthony Eden.

The latest message from Sir Sidney Barton, British minister to Ethiopia, said the situation in Addis Ababa “is somewhat quieter.” After hours of pillage, fire and murder, he said, the city is being evacuated by the natives.

One British casualty has been reported. Barton has been advised that the Diana has arrived at Djibouti to aid in maintaining communication between the beleaguered British legation at Addis Ababa and the foreign office in Whitehall. It will also maintain communication for the British consul at Djibouti.

It is understood that during consultations with the French, Eden intimated that in his opinion the question of interning the king of kings will not arise. Not only because of the emporer’s rank but because he is a virtual ally of the League of Nations powers.

Barton informed the government that before fleeing Addis Ababa the emperor handed over the reins of government to his ministers. Thus, experts regard his act as tantamount to de facto abdication. However, officials consider that Haile Selassie has not yet formally abdicated.

Competent British quarters emphasized that the future destiny of the Negus depends not only on the French government but on his own wishes.

Unofficial but well informed sources denied that the Anglo-Franco consultations, proceeding both in Paris and London, so far have envisaged a tri-power conference, including Italy, “to give up Ethiopia’s corpse.”

The Ethiopian legation received no word from Addis Ababa today, but a spokesman reiterated the belief that Emperor Haile Selassie, after escorting the royal family to French Somaliland, will return to Ethiopia to establish a government seat elsewhere and continue to direct his troops.

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Haile Selassie Beaten by His Own Countrymen, Says United Press Man; Every Effort at Progress Defeated

By EDWARD BEATTIE

NEW YORK, May 3-(UP)-Haile Selassie I, who took his last chance for freedom as the Italian pincers closed and revolt swept in from the west, failed as ruler of Ethiopia because he was too good for his country.

He has no European education like the young men he has yearly sent abroad to absorb civilized ideas and technique. His entire education came from an old French priest in Harar, where his father, Ras Makonnen, was governor during his boyhood.

MASS IGNORANCE

He himself supplied the vision, industry and moral courage which he pitted for years as regent and since 1930 in his own right against a weight of barbarism, cruelty, mass ignorance and indifference prevalent in feudal Ethiopia.

He was balked everywhere. When he tried to educate technicians abroad he was forced to do so out of his own pocket, because priests and advisors blocked spending public money on “Farengi civilization.”

When he brought the first air plane to Ethiopia during the reign of the Empress Zaouditu, it was shipped back to Djibouti posthaste because the priests convinced the empress man was not made to fly and the plane must therefore be the devil’s work.

PHONE WIRE STOLEN

When he tried to lay telephone lines the wires were stolen by natives to stick in their noses or ears ornaments. Grafting ministers sold to their own advantage the rifles and machine guns which he attempted to lay in against the Italian invasion he knew was coming.

His whole reign was a repitition of the same thing. With the exception of a half dozen young pro-worked and whose enthusiasm was offset by their ineptitude, no one in Ethiopia cared whether civilization progressed or not and at least 50 per cent of the powerful chiefs openly opposed it.

Haile Selassie knew war probably meant the end of him and his attempted progress. Even if he had held the Italians off and eventually gained peace, he was through as dictator. He had remained the supreme power, like all Ethiopian rulers because he “had the big guns,” in this case guns that would really shoot.

When war threatened he distributed them among his chiefs, many of them openly hostile to his program and others sympathetic to the old dynasty which considered him a usurper. If peace had come, he would probably have faced revolt.

FORCED TO TAKE FIELD

He was forced to refuse all concessions when peace efforts were made because to make them would have meant revolution in the north. Totally unfitted for military command, he was forced to take the field when he would have been much more effective at Addis, organizing supply and directing both fronts from a central point.

He knew that guerilla warfare was Ethiopia’s only chance – that through it he might make the war so expensive and long-drawn that Italy would be content with part, rather than all, of Ethiopia.

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French Legation In Addis Ababa Attacked by Mobs

PARIS, May 3.-(U.P.) The French legation at Addis Ababa was attacked by rioting throngs of maddened Ethiopians today.

Hundreds of Italian prisoners of war, entrusted by Emperor Haile Selassie to the custody of the French pending the imminent Italian occupation, roused the lust for blood of thousands of Ethiopians to fever pitch.

TWO ATTACKS REPULSED

M. Bodard, French minister to the deserted Ethiopian court, reported that twice the handful of defenders at his legation repulsed two violent attacks by armed mobs.

Two foreigners were wounded.

Earlier two Armenians under French protection were killed and several injured in a similar attack.

Bodard reported that pillagers burned the French railway warehouses in Addis Ababa with losses totalling millions of francs.

Bodard’s messages, crackling over his legation radio station, caused grave concern in Paris.

France at once appealed to Premier Benito Mussolini to protect, foreigners in Addis Ababa.

Mussolini informed the Paris, London and other governments that Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Italian commander-in-chief in East Africa, has been ordered to hasten his entry into Addis Ababa to assure the safety of foreigners.

Bodard reported the urgent necessity of Italian help against bands of Ethiopian looters and disorganized, undisciplined soldiers.

1200 IN COMPOUND

He said the French legation compound in the terror-stricken city was giving refuge to 1200 French, Czechoslovakian and Spanish refugees. Mobs, Bodard wirelessed, were determined to demolish the capital before the Italians arrived.

Delayed messages from Bodard reported that he visited the emperer before the imperial family fled to Djibouti. The Negus asked that France insure his security upon arrival at the French port. Bodard pledged that such security would be given.

OPEN LINE IN LEGATION

Subsequently the diplomatic corps in Addis Ababa asked the emperor not to attempt the defense of his capital so as to avoid a battle which would risk the lives of foreigners.

Prior to his departure, the emporer turned hundreds of Italian prisoners of war over to Bodard’s custody. He asked him to deliver the prisoners to Badoglio.

In his messages to Paris Bodard appealed for news of Badoglio’s whereabouts. He reported soldiers and bandits opened fire on his legation as soon as they learned Italian prisoners were in Bodard’s custody

PALACE LOOTED

Bodard reported that pillagers sacked the Imperial palace after the guard had mowed down many with machine gun fire. Others burned the downtown section of the capital

The young Ethiopian political party sent a warning to Bodard that he might expect further attacks on the French legation Sunday night.

When bullets started falling inside the French compound Saturday Bodard ordered a state of siege. He armed the refugees under his protection and stationed them to hold the walls of the compound at all cost.

ARMENIANS KILLED

Women and children were placed in deep caves for safety. The caves were dug months ago for just such an emergency as now prevails.

In a message timed Saturday midnight, Addis Ababa time, Bodard said that stray bullets killed two Armenians seeking refuge at the French legation. Several refugees were injured.

Literally thousands of bullets struck the legation walls.

Several French railroad officials were cut off from the legation compound and took refuge in the railway station. They were surrounded by mobs trying to burn the depot.

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American Women, Children Rushed to Safety in Capital City of Ethiopia; Americans Leave Legation When Blacks Run Wild

Editor’s Note: The following eye-witness dispatch from Ben Ames, United Press correspondent at Addis Ababa, vividly describes the perils to foreigners in the capital Emperor Haile Selassie abandoned when he fled to the safety of French Somaliland. Ames and James R. Rohrbach, also of the United Press, are the only two American newspapermen in the stricken city. Ames was slashed with sabers when he fought his way through mobs of blood-crazed blacks to reach the compound from where this dispatch was sent.

BY BEN AMES

ADDIS ABABA, May 3. (U.P.)-Women and children of the United States legation were rushed through the streets of this sacked and fire-scarred capital in trucks tonight to the safety of the fortified British legation.

The wife of U. S. Minister Cornelius Van H. Engert was the only woman remaining with us in the compound.

U. S. WOMAN KILLED

Engert’s action in evacuating the women and children followed two days of murder and rioting by Ethiopions loosed from all restraint with the flight of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Mrs. A. R. Sartin, American woman missionary, was killed yesterday by a stray bullet as she slept.

A Dr. Melly, chief of the British Red Cross in Ethiopia, was shot in the lungs today while dragging in wounded from the street. He was given blood transfusion and it was believed he would survive. Shiftas, Ethiopian bandits, attacked T. A. Lambie, head of the Ethiopian Red Cross mission at the mission headquarters, but he beat them off.

12 DIE IN ATTACK

Lambie killed one and wounded another of his attackers.

The Turkish legation was attacked this afternoon. THe attackers finally fled, leaving 12 dead.

The servant of James Rohrbaugh, the other United press correspondent here, was shot through the leg and a tire of his motorcycle was punctured as he fled from a mob.

ITALIANS NEAR

A bullet passed through the windshield of the car in which several other correspondents and I made an inspection tour late today.

Italian troops were reported camped on Akaki plain, 10 miles from the city. White flags were flying on all the Ethiopian huts on the route into the capital.

The government gold house was the scene of a desperate fight. A drunken, infuriated mob stormed machine gun posts and fought hand to hand with the gold house defenders. Swarming over the corpses of their countrymen and the bodies of gravely wounded defenders, the mob entered the house and captured the gold stores.

Numerous bandits, carrying their loot to the nearby hills, were attacked by rebellious Galla tribesmen surrounding Addis Ababa.

Several small groups of Gallas have entered the city, armed only with spears. Their women, dressed as men, brandished sabers and prepared to fight side by side with their warrior husbands.

At dusk, the city started to quiet down. The streets were deserted for the first time in 36 hours.

Packs of wild dogs prowled about devouring mutilated corpses.

It was estimated that more than a half million bullets were fired by natives during the last 36 hours.

RAIN MAY SLOW RESCUE

It is raining here tonight, and this notorious Ethiopian rain may impede the Italian advance enough to postpone temporarily the fall of Addis Ababa.

“I have been barricaded for hours in my own compound near the government radio station. The station has closed. All normal existence in Addis Ababa has ceased since Emperor Haile Selassie fled to neutral territory and left the capital to the mercy of his tribesmen.

CORPSES COVER STREETS

“We were driven out of our compound by “Shiftas” the Ethiopian name for bandits. We were subjected to constant attacks from them. There are rumors now that the Shiftas have formed some sort of loose organization and are preparing for some serious efforts.

“I got to the center of the city. Streets are strewn with corpses. I counted eight bodies all of them mutilated – but there is no way of estimating how many have died in the rioting.

“The entire retail business section in the center of the city is in ruins. The postoffice is a heap of hot ashes and smouldering timber. The customs house is demolished.

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Italians Closely Follow Advance Of Negro Troops

By REYNOLDS PACKARD

WITH THE ITALIAN ADVANCE ON ADDIS ABABA, transmitted via wireless at Derba Sina, May 3-(UP)-Marshal Pietro Badoglio, commander of Italy’s east African armies, tonight was following closely the native Askari troops which have occupied the Entoto hills overlooking Addis Ababa.

Marshal Badoglio is in constant contact with the vanguard of Italian troops and is personally directing the advance on Addis Ababa, He was expected momentarily give the order to enter the capital.

Badoglio’s motorized column of 1,000 units ploughed over the last muddy summit and reached the table land on which Emperor Haile Selassie’s capital is perched, 90 miles south of the positioin from which I am writing this dispatch. However, the huge mechanized column must travel at more than least 120 miles over tortuous roads to reach its goal.

On several occasions during the record-breaking advance, I have seen Marshal Badoglio wash and bathe in the rivers like any buck private and trudge for hundreds of yards on muddy, rocky roads in order to lighten the burden of his automobile.

Late last night the Marshal ordered his troops to pitch camp here in the little village of Derba Sina, below the edge of the plateau. Black shepherdesses gathered around the Italian camp and sang all night as a sign of welcome to the Fascist legions.

Meanwhile, a few miles to either side of the column glowed the campfires of disbanded Ethiopian warriors, apparently returning their distant farmlands after many months of suffering at the front in a vain attempt to halt the black shirts.