In Somali/and

Many a sailor shanghaied at Aden, has been carried round Cape Guardafui, easternmost point of Africa, and down its coast to Zanzibar, without ever knowing that after passing the Cape he sailed for 1,000 miles past the Italian protectorate of Somaliland.

Ignorance of this protectorate is not confined to seafarers. Last week numerous geographies were thumbed as Italy reported that she was sending troops to dominate the northern part of this region, after having contented herself with asserting actual authority only in the south during the 36 years of her regime.

Historians recalled that Somaliland was the scene of the first important Italian venture at African colonization, and was brought under Italian influence in 1889 by treaties with the Somali sultans and subsequent agreements with Britain, Zanzibar and Abyssinia. Since that time the sultanates of Obbia and Mijertins have been allowed to retain their de facto autonomy, but now Italian troops have "resumed" actual control of this territory. Fascist-censored cables report that, the natives "welcomed the Italians with benevolence and sympathy," and surrendered 2,000 rifles and much ammunition "without pulling a single trigger."