LIFE IN ERITREA HAS COMPENSATIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5297, 9 January 1947, Page 7

LIFE IN ERITREA HAS COMPENSATIONS

BNEMY PBOPERTY CUSTODIAN IS NEW ZEA'LAN'DiEK Viewpoints on Eritrea in NorthEast Africa, are contaiined in a letter to a Hastings resiident written by a New Zealander, who held the rank of captain in the New Zealand forces, but is employed as a civilian as assistant custodian of enemy property in Asmara, the daplital. "Asmara is ahsolutely iTp to the minute with fine, wide streets, water and electric light. There are five cinemas and numerous cabarets," states the writer. "There is also a NAAFI officer's olub here .which isn't had at all, whisky 80 cents or a fraetion over '9d. We also draw from the NAAFI shop. Our whisky ration is four bottles a month. The price is the same as in Italy, 8/6. A bottle of good cognac costs 10/-. "This place is situated at a height of 8000 feet and though it is- in the tropics, the climate i's excellent. Momings are beautifully fresh. Days are llike an average summer at home and evenings are cool. And, of course, you always know that it is going to be fine to-morrow. That applies even in the rainy season when it rains very hard for about an hour each day, usually in the afternoon. The rarity of the atmosphere is apt to be a bit tiring at tames, especially if one has to climb several flights of stairs." In referring to a trip to Massaua, the writer states: "Although in the summer Massaua is supposed to be one of the hottest ports in the world, it is delightful there now and the season is in full swing. The pub is a magnificent place 'with swimming bath, dancing floor and bar in the garden. There is no doubt to my mnd that these Ttes' have forgotten more about 'jacking-up' holiday resorts than we ever knew. "•I suppose you read in the papers aboiut our riots here," the writer continues. "Quite a lot of it went on outside our flat. We heard a few shots and bangs, but 'I thought it was the Moslems celebrating the last day of Ramadan. That's what it was alright. About 79 Sudanese troops had run amiuck, seized some trucks and a couple of dingoes and proceeded to shoot up the population of Asmara. "At the time an officer friend of ours was chatting with us over a cup of tea, and we diid not take much nofice. At about seven o'clock he left. He told me the next day that when he went downstairs there were about 50 people in the vesti'buie, but he did not take much notice and proceeded to go out and walk home. "The next thing a bullet whistled past his ear, and he undepstood. The official death roll was about 40, but I have been told that if one added 100 to it, one would be Tiearer the mark. A court-martial is proceeding here now at which 65 men are on tr'ial for murder." The officer's impression of some English types in the capital are illuminating. He writes: "One married woman here (and she's only 20 and just out of school, where she should have learnt better) asked one day if New Zealanders were like Australians — descended from a lot of criminals."