Mobilization

Only a corporal in the World War, Benito Mussolini this week abruptly mobilized for his first war as Dictator with gusto. Calling to the colors more than 250,000 Italians--two divisions of the military class of 1911--plus three classes of naval fighters, II Duce sent 50 battle planes thundering on ahead to Africa.

The enemy: Abyssinia.

The provocation: Further bloody border skirmishes in Africa between intrepid Abyssinians and cocky Italian colonial troops (TIME, Dec. 24, 31).

The Italian Field Commander: General Emilio de Bono, an original Fascist Quadrumvir of the March on Rome, was relieved as Minister of Colonies by II Duce last month and sent to Africa when Statesman Mussolini determined to postulate Abyssinian aggression.

The joker: Statesman Mussolini is believed to have obtained a "free hand in Abyssinia" from Britain and France who need his aid in getting Germany into the Eastern Locarno. In London this week the Foreign Office announced, that Sir Sidney Barton, British Minister to Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia, had instructions to inform His Majesty that Abyssinia's proper course is "direct negotiation with Italy," not an appeal to the League (of which Abyssinia is a member) or an appeal to Britain.

In Rome plenty of fighting was expected but no declaration of war, unless Abyssinia should foolishly oblige by declaring war on Italy. To keep his soldiers happy Dictator Mussolini, once a hodcarrier, ordered Italian employers to pay every worker called to the colors full salary for three months, then half salary for the next three months. Finally every soldier who returns must be given back the job he left this week. On 'change Italian government bonds dropped from 81 1/2 to 78 1/2.

In 1896 some 90,000 Abyssinians routed 13,000 Italians, slew 6,500. This week Fascists exulted that smashing Italian victories in Abyssinia in 1935 will "wipe out the shame of 1896!"

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