A FOILED MISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 299, 27 May 1915, Page 6

A FOILED MISSION.

\ TO INCITE ABYSSINIA. A (iermitn political mission, headed by tlic explore"- Herr Frobcinius (u friend of (.lie Kaiser), recently travelled, l)y ivav of the lialkan States and Turkey, to tile lied Sea. and attempted to penetrate to Abyssinia through the Italian lied Sea colony of Erithrea. The Italian authorities refused rifjjlit of passage, and the foiled mission returned to <!erniany, via Italy. It, is suspected that the object of this mission was to instigate the Abyssinians to attack Tiritish forces in the Soudan. Tliis the Germans deny, saying their purpose was only to carry a mail to the Oernian Minister to Aliyssinia. This "denial lias been met by Italian newspapers with a recital of the composition of the mission and also bv the fact fliat it travelled through Eoulnauia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Asia. Minor before landing on the Arabian Tied Sea coast, near Akabah. From Akabah the travellers crossed the Red Sea to Massowa, capital of the Italian colony of Krithrea. It was on this trip that a French cruiser overhauled and nearly captured them. The native boat chartered by the mission was thoroughly searched by the 'French officers, hut. the four flermansf had so carefully hidden themselves that they remained undiscovered. Though Ttalv did not permit them passage through Eritlirea, she undertook to see that the mail for the Herman Minister to Abyssinia would go forward in due course.