Hour of Need

Anxiously, hour after hour, Benito Mussolini waited for word from Ethiopia last week. He needed a good thumping victory as never before. The smashing of the Imperial Guard in the Lake Ashangi region fortnight ago was glory enough to keep Italians contented for another month, but something more was needed to halt Anthony Eden's drive toward sterner League sanctions at Geneva.

Quoram, just occupied by Marshal Badoglio, is only 100 miles from Dessye, for months the headquarters of Haile Selassie. The Imperial Highway is supposed to connect the two towns. Could Italian troops make the distance in a week? Three fortresses stood in the way: the hill town of Kobbo, Amaba Sel, and the natural fortress of Magdala.

First reports to Rome were promising. Haile Selassie was fleeing from his men on muleback. He had shaved off his beard to avoid recognition.* His death was expected hourly. Revolting Galla tribesmen, Mohammedans long subject to the Christian Amharas, were slaughtering the remnants of the Imperial Guard. Italian pickets had been seen on the outskirts of Kobbo.

Then a long and painful silence ensued. Finally the truth trickled through. Marshal Badoglio was twice as willing to take risks as his cautious Fascist predecessor De Bono, but not useless risks. The rapid advance of the past three weeks and increasing rains had raised hob with Italian communications and supplies. Just when II Duce was in dire need of African action, Badoglio had halted to mend his lines.

Promptly Addis Ababa began sending out optimistic reports. The Emperor was not fleeing. Three hundred thousand tribesmen were assembling to harass the Italian advance. Ended the report:

"The internal situation of the country is excellent with an abundant food supply and living costs cheaper than before the War."

* This legend persisted for days despite the fact that any clean shaven Ethiopian chief would be as conspicuous as a Chinese with side whiskers.

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