They Remember

After words of praise and encouragement from Emperor Haile Selassie, a battalion of Ethiopian troops--1,153 officers and men--left Addis Ababa last week for combat service with the U.N. allies in Korea. Well trained in street and guerrilla fighting and hardened to mountain war, the Ethiopians, all volunteers, were equipped with British rifles and battle clothing. The Coptic Christian Church gave them permission to eat non-orthodox food (i.e., U.S. rations), and sent along a chaplain. From Addis Ababa they went to Djibouti in French Somaliland, boarded a U.S. ship there. It was reported last week that they may bypass Japan, go directly to Pusan.

In Korea, the Ethiopians will be commanded by little (5 ft. 6 in.) Colonel Kebbede Gabra, who was trained by the British at Ganat Military Academy (Ethiopia's West Point). Although he is inexperienced in modern war, the British expect him to do well; the Emperor awarded him a medal.

Haile Selassie and his people well remember that the League of Nations foundered on its failure to help them against Mussolini's Fascists in 1935. Consequently, though they have not waged war outside Africa for 13 centuries, they consider it well worth while to send a contingent to Korea, where another world organization is on trial.

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