RED CROSS BOMBED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 9

RED CROSS BOMBED

MANY CASUALTIES

SWEDISH AMBULANCE

PROTESTS TO THE LEAGUE

United Press Association—By Electric Trie.

graph—CopyrigbU ADDIS ABABA, December 31

Addis Ababa is horrified by a wireless report from Ras Desta that. Italians bombed the Swedish Red Cross ambulance 20 miles from Dolo. All members of tbe unit, including nine Swedes and 23 Abyssinians, wrere believed killed, but later messages indicate that several may have survived. The aeroplanes flew low enough easily to distinguish the red cross. The Swedish Consul at Addis Ababa describes the bombing as a dastardly crime which only barbarians could have committed. Soldiers are able to take cover during air raids, but Red Cross workers must stand at their posts. The International Red Cross delegate has strongly protested to Geneva.. The anxiety of foreign Red Cross volunteers was increased by a report that an Egyptian hospital narrowly escaped when Italians bombed Dagabur yesterday.

The Government has notified the Swedish Red Cross at Stockholm that Dr. Fride'Hylander, commander of the bombed unit, is believed to have survived, though wounded. He will be flown to Addis Ababa by aeroplane. Dr. Hanner, Swedish Consul at Addis Ababa, is leaving for the scene with Baron yon Rosen, a Swedish Red Cross airman, to search for survivors, who may include Doctors Eric Smith and Akke Holm, besides a male nurse, also an orderly, though all these are believed to have been wounded. Ten aeroplanes participated in the attack. HOW NEWS WAS RECEIVED. The Addis Ababa correspondent of "The Times" says the first news of the bombing came from the wireless operator at the headquarters of . Ras Desf.a at Nugelli in the southernmost extremity of Sidamo. He briefly announced to the Government the total destruction of the unit. Ras Desta followed up with a message to Dr. Hanner stating that the medical staff and equipment had been killed and destroyed (the actual Abyssinian words used mean "broken to pieces"). He asked for a Red Cross aeroplane to carry Dr. Hylander to Addis Ababa. The aeroplane, however, left for De.-ssie this morning. It will be immediately recalled and is expected here tomorrow morning, since the Italian mastery of the air makes flights from Dessie unsafe except at that time.

The Government meanwhile sent a radio message to Ras Desta for fuller details. ' The Swedish Red Cross flags were flown at half-mast. The gravest fears are entertained for the safety .of the remainder of the unit. The "Daily Telegraph's" Addis Ababa correspondent says that Ras Desta is pressing towards Lugh. The bombing occurred between the advance troops and the main body. The head of the Abyssinian Church has telegraphed to the world's religious leaders protesting against Italians- burning churches in the retreat from Abbi Addi and condemning Abyssinians who desert to the enemy, threatening them with the curse of Judah Darius.

The Rome correspondent of "The Times" says no information is available regarding the bombing, though official circles admit knowledge of the report. It is worth while in the circumstances to recall a message from Mogadiscio on December 27 to the newspaper "Messagero" by Arnold Cipollo • stating that Italian airmen recognised near the River Ganale Dorya the numerous large tents of the Swedish hospital, easily distinguishable by flags spread out on the ground and large red crosses upon the tents. Europeans who formed part of the ambulance, at the sight of Italian machines, waved Swedish flags to attract the attention of the pilots with such insistence as to arouse suspicion that the hospital was a make-believe and that the tents housed European officers advising Ras Desta and leading his army. SWEDEN OVERWHELMED. A Stockholm message states that the New Year celebrations were overcast by news of the bombing. The country was. struck dumb with horror and indignation by the tidings, which were disseminated in special editions of newspapers and also by wireless. The Press and populace express the bitterest resentment towards Italy, the paper "Dagens Nyheter" suggesting the dispatch of a new ambulance to Abyssinia as the fittest retort to Italy's unheard-of outrage. People are hostile to all local Italians, particularly the Minister, the Marquis of Palermo, whose legation police are specially guarding. A broadcast programme was changed from cabaret to classical music, flags were flown at half-mast, and a national subscription opened. Haile Selassie telegraphed condolences to the Crown Prince Carl, President of! the Red Cross, who, like Government officials, at present declines to comment on the bombing, though Swedish diplomats at Rome and Addis Ababa 3iave been urgently instructed to dispatch reports of the occurrence, which at leading newspaper denounces as a crime against international law and tercible evidence of the ferocity of Italian warfare, stamping it as a barbarous operation.