1935-12-14 — Page 8

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THE

Buy

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1935.

A GOOD

USED CAR

Now!

For the Motorist desiring a sound and attractive used car at low cost we have a limited number of re- llable ready-for-the-road units available for immediate posses- sion, including:--

FORD COUPE, 1929 ESSEX ROADSTER, 1930 BUICK SEDAN, 1931 FIAT SALOON, 1931. CHRYSLER SEDAN. 1931

For particulars and terms apply to--

$400 450

850

Two Months Of Warfare

THE Abyssinian war has now

been in progress about two months and a definite stage in the campaign has been reached. It is therefore a suitable time to review the whole situation from a more general point of view than is possible In à day-to- day resume.

On the map the Italians' gains look considerable, and, indeed, they have necomplished much, In the north they have conquered and consolidated some 6,000 square miles of Abyssinian tor- ritory, an area about the size of four average English counties.

Most of the local chiefs and tribes here have minde their sub- mission.

About 300 miles of motor roads have been driven through 450 very difficult country, and the 750] main army on the line from Makale west to the Takazze is being supplied by 5,000 motor lorries,

Hongkong HOTEL GARAGE

FIVE DANCE RECORDS OF OUTSTANDING Stubbs Rd. · Phone 27778-9.

MERIT FROM THE

DECEMBER "H-M-V" RELEASE

BD-235 Song of the 'Cello-Foxtrot (From "Please Teacher") You give me ideas-Foxtrot (From "Plosse Teacher")

BD-236 When the Rain comes rolling Down-Fox Trot

Lonely Villa-Fox Trot

(Both Played by Jack Hylton's Orchestra).

BD-281 My very good friend the Milkman--Fox Trop

Mickey's Son and Daughter-Fox Trot

BD-282. My young man is ever so nice-Comedy One-Step

Rhythm in a great big way-Fox Trot

7

(Both Played by fack Jackson's Orchestra).

BD-237 Squibs-Fox Trot (Film "Squibs")

New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Did you ever have a feeling you're flying-Fox Trot

(Film "Squibs") New Mayfair Dance Orchestra. Also a fine selection of vocal and instrumental records by World Famous Artists.

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0.0

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Sir Atholl and Lady MacGregor

p.p.o.

The

Hongkong Telegraph.

SATURDAY, DEC. 14, 1935.

ADOWA and Makule, two

places of considerable senti- mental interest with their mem- ories of Italinn disasters in 1896, have been wrested from the Abyssinians, All this bas cost the Italians much in labour and money, but very little in casun). tles, for there has really beva no fighting at all.

In the south the territorial gains have been at least as ex- tensive, and the cost even less, for nothing like the same amount of heavy road-making has been required. The country here is not mountainous and rugged as in the north, but is mostly sandy desert, where troops and motor vehicles can move almost un- hindered.

.

The main problem, that of water supply, has been largely solved by the occupation of the

Only

SUDAN

„KRqué“ GAN

Prelude

KENYA

wells and the use of motor tank lorries. Here again the Abys saians have made little attempt

1 real resistance.

The central sector, north and west of French Somaliland, has hitherto been quiet. But now that the Sultan of Aussa has thrown in his lot with the in- enders the position hore is likely to prove favourable for yet u third Italian offensive. It may prove a dangerous one for the Abyssinians, for it is in this area that their routes of arms supply from the Red Sea coast can most easily be struck at and severed.

M

BUT if we examine the whole

BRITISH BENEFITS NOTES OF THE DAY position more closely we shall

TO EGYPT

ANY FREE SEATS?

is rather pathetic that Mr. Kumsay MacDonald, once the Lion of the Land, should go a-begging

They

Those

see that all that has happened

LAND

AMAUT

ITAL

ALILAND

vaders will be completely depen dent, and they will become longer und more precarious with every mile they progress.

•

MORE work will be needed on

them, and more troops to guard them, so that fewer men will be left available at the front to push forward the spearhead of the advance.

Raiding Abyssinian bands will find plenty of scope for their activities, and any important success on their part, real or reputed, may well bring hurry- Ing to their help the local chiefs and tribes, whose policy is ul

Guerrilla tactics are their best policy, but for this three things are necessary-arms, supplies and determined spirit. It isnt least doubtful whether the Abys- sinian resources under these heads will suffice them.

Arms are few and

poor. More are coming in every day, but the most direct routes of supply from Jibuti and Berbern are already endangered by the hostile advance, and may shortly

be severed entirely. The other routes from, the Sudan' are less satisfactory, and there is a real danger that of the huge totals of warriors, so formidable-looking on paper, an increasing propor- Lion may find themselves, re- duced to swords and spears only, and therefore all but useless in the field.

The Abyssinian food supplies, too, are practically confined to what each individual warrior

can bring with him or seize locally. When these resources have been exhausted, the armies must disperse-or starve.

Finally there is the question of moral endurance. The soul of the uncivilised tribesman is not well constituted to stand appar- ent failure.

Either his patience gives out, so that nothing can hold him back from mad and foolish at- tacks lending only to slaughter and defeat, or else he becomes 'disheartened, unwilling to fight In a seemingly hopeless cause, and all too ready to abandon it at the first opportunity ..

What will be the outcome of it all? Prophecy is not easy, but at the moment everything seems to point to a long war and a bitter war, bringing only ruin and misery to Abyssinia, and to

the effort expanded on Italy no adequate return for all her gigantic task.

ways to be on the side of the apparently successful, and in whom racial passions and greed BULLS AND INNERS

hitherto is by way of prelude for loot are always powerful only to the real drama. This motives. will begin when the Italians have to launch their main offen-

give against the core of the Abys sinian resistance,

Prudence and thoroughness alone can serve to avert these

From the Office Butts

Our new Governor is a talented pianist. He certainly struck the right note in his first speech in Hongkong.

1

During the week, wo discovered

dangers and enable the Italians to solve all these dificult prob- Even territorially they have tems successfully. But (18 self is about the size of France the need for spectacular suc much still to do. Abyssinia it against this there is apart from

and Italy combined, and the censes for home consumption, Italians have a most rugged and the urgent necessity for speed, difficult area in front of them lest the end of the campaigning that quite a lot of local ladies are the great mountainous mass season in the apring should come forming the heart of the coun- with the task of conquest only try. Here air recommaissance half accomplished. cannot be unduly relied on; The effect of sanctions, too, tanks and lorries can move only slow but inexorable, must gradu- supply of necessaries of all with difficulty, if at all; and the ally tend to dry up the lavish

kinds, with which, no modern army in a campaiga such as this cab dispense..

fighter as the trained civilized soldier, if not better.

on

Here there should at last be fighting and plenty of it, the sort Moreover, the financial strain advantages conferred of fighting, too, in which the on Italy's none-too-plentiful Italians by their modern weap- as it is by the cost of freeing the the monetary resources, aggravated

ons and equipment will be con- slaves in the occupied territory siderably lessened and possibly and paying them for their labour completely negatived.

on the military roads, must soon become serious.

Progress, when achieved, will be more painfully won at far greater cast.

No observer of conditions in Egypt at the moment eu but feel surprised that the extremist element in that country should have chosen the present mo

for a seat in the House of Com mens. And it is something of a [ment for violent displays of anti-co-incidence, that bis son, Malcolm,

British feeling. Sir Samuel

leo n Minister in the. Cabinet, Hoare, in his speech in Parlia-should have been defeated in the ment. last week, declared that came election. There are some who the British Government was not

make a jest of the situation, suying that is not surprising that two unmindful of Egyptian aspira- Scots should be looking for free tions, and he looked forward to seats. But actually, the funny side

is hidden from most of us. Anglo-Egyptian relations being

who want to sea level-headed placed on a permanent footing government in Britain will greative tribesman is as useful a satisfactory to both nations. that the two MacDonalds Tur There has, in fact, been already

t loss valuable, too valuable a definite advance in this matter, names,

have been called hard particularly the elder -further illustrated by the statesman, but Mr. MacDonald British attitude regarding the own future for the welfare of the deliberately chose to sacrifice, his restoration of the constitution-country he served when he deserted which the moderate elements in Labour, and is descrying of more consideration and more trust than Egypt, have not been slow to the electors showed him when last appreciate. These moderates he went on the hustlugs. Not that fully realise that British protec-we blume Seaham for voting Labour or Socialist or anything else they tion counts for much in an inter-desire:

but we rather feel they national emergency such as the would have been "nicer" to have present, in which Signor Mus-voted for the man rather than the solini is aspiring to an overlord-party in this case: even if it were to show only that England had a ship of the Mediterranean. In lasting admiration for one who such a situntion, mutual interest | mude duty his frst principle.. With surely dictates increasingly cor-ho

respect to Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, is a young man with a big dial co-operation between the future, and a defeat at this stage Egyptian and British author of career does not mean that he ities.

is lost to the Government. No-one Like extremists every-

questions his ability; but he has where. however, the Wafdists not the maturity which his father's have not tempered zeal with presence would eindow upon the discretion. They have been en-

nation's counsels. However, many want him in the Cabinet. If he is to gaged in the business of cutting be found a seat, if will probably off their nose to spite their face be as a University representative; and that is remarkable for this someone else's face. Do-

reason. In March, 1931. the claring that they will not give Socialist Government proposed to their harbours, their soldiers abolish the University representa- and their money for nothing in memorable debate in the House of

altogether. There return, they have apparently Commons and the Government was failed to see that Egypt has been defeated by 246 to 242 votes. Mr.

Malcolm able, thanks to the vigilance of MacDonald voted in the minority and Mr. Ramsay the British Navy and air arm, for the abolition of the universities, to give them a sense of security franchise. If either father or son stands for the Scottish. Universities

-01

tion

Was FL

nt a moment when the nation is he will be taking advantage of an encompassed by dangers. The instrument which he had previously only purpose which the riotous sought to destroy. Nationalists will serve, by their.

tnetics, will be to encourage Mus-down to realities, surely it would solin in his dream, to use his be infinitely better to live undor town words of six years ago, of British protection than to be banishing foreigners from the subjected to the form of "civili- | Mediterranean, beginning with sation" which Italy seeks to en- the British." Egypt, the an-force in Ethiopin. Happily, the cient Roman colony, he regards Nationalists are not representa- as the natural granary of Italy, tive of the feeling of the

LANE, CRAWFord, Ltd. No Egyptian who has studied Egyptian people as a whole. To

+k ci

the trend of Italian policy can put it no higher, the moderates fail to realise the dangers of have all along known on which the present situation. To come side their bread is buttered.

in we have hitherto seen will

Longer paura

*

DIFFICULT as is the military problem of the Italians, that be necessary for enroful and of the Abyssinians is hardly less thorough consolidation and im so. In a stand-up fight they are provement of communications. noi, and can never hope to be, On these communications the in- a match for, their enemies.

"Now, Timothy, please don't begin to-night telling everyone how you started in with nothing and worked your way up.

interested in stamp collecting. Sir- charged?

E

It is stated that there are no less than forty-nine different-brands-of- beer on the Hongkong market. We BAW N man yesterday who must have tried all of them)

.0

A visitor has expressed the opin- on that -Hongkong's new Govern- ment notes are decidedly smart in appearance. Taylor-made, of course!

☐

Sir Andrew Caldecott says no business-man can afford to be surface-minded these days. What about our old friend Macadam?

O

Garlic is said to have hidden propertice. Nusally, we've suspect.. ed it for years!

ធ

It is said that people are shop-

ping earlier, this year.

No time

like the present for the present.

口 ២

1

Personally, we don't care what

our wife gives us as long as whe docan't give un sockal

O

Writing of her experiences, on a Fur Eastern tour, an American scribess says that "Hongkong la a. paradise in fine weather, but, what residents do in the wat season is. a mystery," She must have over- looked the local slogan: "Pop, Into Mackintoshs".

0.0

For the first time,'a new Governor's arrival was ignalised by the ringing of the Cathedral belly. A sign of the chimes!

Formal dress was largely 'dis- pensed with at Thursday's reception. Lounge suits some people, anyhow.

0.0

This is the season when No, 4 Youmnii, cat becomes No. 1 · Fox, '

Defondant who was committed, for trial yesterday, at the Central Court, when asked if he had any evidence to offer, replied: "I don't want to say anything now." Silence. In the caught.