ITALIAN REPRISALS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 35, 25 February 1937, Page 5

ITALIAN REPRISALS

-Pres» Asan.-

600 Abyssinians Shot After Bomb Plot

RAS DESTA'S MEN

(Bv T«Tegrach-

-Copyrlght.)

(Eeceived 25, 8.45 a.m,) ) EOME, Feb. 24. If is believed Italians killed 600 Abyssinians following the bombing on February 20, including 300 executed as a reprisal. Two hundred were killed when Fascists cleaned up Addis Ababa and one hundred slaughtered when, in the confusion after the bombing, Italians fired into. the crowd. MaPshal Graziani's condition may be worse than disclosed. Signor Corrado Zoli, a formbir govcrnor of Eritrea, expressed the opinion that Dadjazmatches Beine Merid and Gabra Mariam joined forces to march on Addis Ababa with the support of Eas Desta, but were defeated by Italian columns, Eas Desta escaping wounded. The captoro brought back Dedjasmatch Beine Merid to the battlefield, shooting him after he'*had identified Dedjasmatch Gabra Mariam1* body. The bomb throwers were emiweries of Eas Desta who struck prematurely, believing Eas Desta 's arrival was imminent whereais he was still two days from the capital. They hurled ten grenades before they fell. A message from Eome Qn February 20 stated that after a distribution of' gifts to churches and juQBTh®8 ia Addis Ababa a section of the crowd thTew several hand grenades at fhe Italian leaders. The Vieeroy, Marshal Graziani, wals seriously wounded in one hand, and General Liotttt was gravely wounded in the abdomen and one leg. Several others wer© hurt including the nativ© bishop of the Coptic Church, Bishop CircBlOj