Office of the Historian

765.84/5068: Telegram

The Minister Resident in Ethiopia (Engert) to the Secretary of State

Addis Ababa, October 12, 1936—10 a.m.
[Received 3:45 p.m.]

585. My 583, October 10, 2 p.m.51

1.
It appears that a freight train was derailed by a small band of Abyssinians who escaped. Train service was reestablished yesterday.
2.
This incident on the eve of the arrival of the Italian Ministers for Colonies and Public Works has greatly embarrassed and annoyed the Italian authorities who believed that with the end of the rainy season such attempts were no longer possible so near the capital.
3.
Preparations are now being hastily made to extend the Italian occupation west and southwest of Addis Ababa. Ras Hailu whom the Emperor had imprisoned for disloyalty is being used by the Italians to head a band of about a thousand Ethiopians to act as a vanguard. Accompanied by a body of Askaris with white officers they [Page 84] arrived at Addis Alem some 30 miles due west about September 17th. But shortly afterwards Ras Hailu returned to the capital injured by a fall from his mule but according to some with a bullet in his leg.
4.
Six Italian planes flew to Lekempti a few days ago after the Italian authorities had made sure that the local Galla governor Habte Mariam was no longer hostile. The planes are reported to have returned safely.
5.
A large motorized column is soon to start for Jimma. As in the case of Ras Hailu a native Moslem chieftain Abba Jobir grandson of a sultan of Jimma has already been sent on ahead with some 800 Mohammedan followers.
Engert
  1. Not printed.↩