Rome, Sept, 13.
Although Italy has decided intensity her military preparations, as announced by Signor Mussolini yesterday in a speech before the Cabinet, the strength of her army will continue reduced, it is stated.
'Rearmament' will principally be in the sphere of mechanization and modernization of equipment.
From a total of nearly 1,200,000 men under arms to fight in the: Abyssinian war, the Tialian army. at present estimated to be under 00,000 men.
Contrary to carlier reports, it is now stated that Italy's peacectime army in Abyssinia will" comprise 24.300 Italian troops and 40.000. Eritrean and Abyssinian Askaris, Somalis andi Dubats.
The white troops, consisting of on Jaivision of the Ballan a Grenadiers of Savoie and battalions of Black Shirt militia, will be made up of 2000 long service amicers, 500 "short service officers, 1,800 N.C.0's and 20,000 other rank.
The establishment, though small considering the size of the. country jis extremely mobile and highly mechanized, 150,000 Hatian will be required in Aby: sinza {o carry out the programme road-making and other public works, Fascism Rome, Sept. 1 A decree approved by the Corparative Council yesterday establishes the Administrative and. territorial organization of East Africa, according to the "Fascist principles of order ana Blerarchie authority.
Ethiopian chiefs will henceforth be the direct local functionaries of Italy and will assure understanding be= tween the Italian authorities and the populace. Italian functionaries, where they reside, will exercise both Political and police "powers. The decree states that the' exercise of personal' power by the "Abyssinian leaders and juridical and social pro miiscuity between whites and natives will not be tolerated, group of many residents will form '2 "commissariat," which will be sub-ceted (0 the control of the territorial government.
Ethiopia "will be divided into five district governments, which in. turn will be under the central authority of the Viceroy.
The new organization, the decree states, will respect local traditions 50 ong s they are not incompatible with Fascist order, Matlan Army in Abyssinia conjunction with the new administrative decree for Abyssinia, the strength of the Italicn Colonial Army in East Africa has just been un-hounced. This will comprise 2,500 officers, 1,800 "non-commissioned officers, 20,600 white soldiers, and 40,000 native soldiers.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.