ANSWER TO QUESTION 3.

BY ANSHUMAN CHHABRA:

KEY POINTS -

The reasons for gaining control of Ethiopia have already been enumerated well enough in the text.
A few can be summarized as follows -

located in the Horn of Africa

abundance of precious stones, jewels and a wealth of resources
reduce travel time to India through the Suez Canal

Moreover, a few key facets impacting the development of a military strategy in this situation should
also be listed -

Since Italy is incapable of taking over Ethiopia, they are aiding them in resisting the Empire.
Thus, Italy is a key player that also needs to be taken out of the equation otherwise a long
term blind military onslaught would only result in casualties without any real breakthrough.
The militia and the Army of Ethiopia have weak infrastructural ties and are fighting
individually. It is possible to use this against them to our advantage.
Entry through the North-Eastern border of Ethiopia is near impossible due to the presence of
the Italians as well as extremely harsh climatic conditions.
The suitable point of entry is thus the Western border protected by the militia. Due to home
advantage, they offer a difficult challenge despite their use of outdated and primited arms
and ammunition.

THE MILITARY STRATEGY -

Overview.
Due to the key points listed above, it is imperative to not go for an all out offensive strategy, but to
couple it with supreme defenses. There is also a need for an element of surprise in every move. We
use a combination of Deception and Feint strategies to deal with the militia. As the militia uses
quickness and their knowledge of the terrain to their advantage, it is useless for the Empire troops to
face them head on in the mountaineous region. The Empire troops need to instill the help of a few
local informants and guides who can help them with knowledge of the terrain and guide them to the
locations and whereabouts of the militia personnel. These informants can be bribed and lured with
relocation to a better life abroad or other gains in the form of resources, monetary aid and the like. It
should also be made clear to these informants that treachery and untruthfullness would be met with
severe and harsh penalties. Therefore, the Deception part of the strategy starts with dividing up
the Empire troops into one main group with large numbers and a number of smaller groups. It is
important to note here that physically, western Ethiopia is made up of a number of fissures which
divide it into multiple regions. These fissures have been created over time by the action of the water
constantly eroding the surface. Moreover, these fissures are located in the valleys of rivers and are
very wide and perpendicularly steep [1]. Thus, they can be effectively used by the subgroups to hide
and camouflage unbeknownst to the enemy. The main group will continue to traverse regularly
through the region and in times of an ambush, will alert the nearest subgroup of this using a flare
gun or something similar. This will give the troops the element of surprise. This combined with the
local knowledge of the terrain and the militia personnel, will give the troops a much needed military
advantage. This is also known as the Feint strategy, wherein home troops deceive enemy troops to
areas of little or no consequence [2].
Next, the Ethiopian army needs to be combatted effectively. Since the Army receives armaments,
training, funding and resources directly from the Italian stronghold, it is imperative to not
underestimate the opponent. Since, tanks and large ballistic equipment would not be suitable to the
terrain of Ethiopia, lightweight but effective sub-machine guns such as the Beretta OVP Modello
1918 and the Carl-Gustav m21-m37 can be used [3]. However, to decentralise control in Addis
Ababa, it is necessary to expediently deal with the Army. This can be done in phases working in
conjunction with the fight against the militia, which is a smaller threat. Also, the focus on
combatting the Army should be on endurance. Once the threat of the militia starts waning, more
forces can be concentrated on the Ethiopian Army. The League of Nations can also be used to create
instability and hamper Italian-Ethiopian relations. This could be done by raising arguments of
racism and fascism against B. Mussolini and his Nationalist Fascist Party. This could be proven
with his speeches sporting distinct racial undertones. One such example is his September 1920
speech in which he said [4] -

When dealing with such a race as Slavic inferior and barbarian we must not pursue the carrot,
but the stick policy... We should not be afraid of new victims... The Italian border should run across
the Brenner Pass, Monte Nevoso and the Dinaric Alps... I would say we can easily sacrifice 500,000
barbaric Slavs for 50,000 Italians...

Such statements made by him could be used as evidence of a largely intolerant Italian Kingdom. It
could be a signal for Ethiopia to rethink their alliances with a country which might be so inherently
biased upon a person's race.

Phase 1.

Fighting of the militia ensues on the western border.

Deceive and Feint strategies to be employed to ambush and overpower the militia troops.
The main troops will follow well charted paths from Guba to Debre Markos to Addis Ababa,
fighting miltia troops along the way.
At the same time the militia combat had started, the other Army fighting troops also start
traveling along the Rift Valley to fight the Ethiopian Army stationed right through the North
and North-Eastern borders.
Five battalions traverse from Maji, Sogata, Murie, Chew Balur and Mega to conquer
Ethiopia.

Phase 2.

The main troops fighting the militia will be supported by the divided subgroups stationed in
three locations initally at Bahir Dar, Debre Tabor and Dangila.
As the main group of troops continue to move towards Addis Ababa, the subgroups will
move to Fiche, Debre Birhan and Hagre Hiywet.
By this time, the Army fighting troops should have made their way upto Gurdase, Jinka,
Arba Minch, Kibre Mengist, Agaro and Jima Waka, fighting and trying to get past enemy
hostiles.
The Army fighting troops try to keep fighting and reach Awasa, Goba and Hosai'na.

Phase 3.

By this time, if the plans are successful, the militia should have been completely obliterated
by the main militia fighting troops and the subgroups.
All subgroups should assemble at Koka Dam near Nazret to regroup with the main militia
fighting troops before attacking Addis Ababa.
 As a result, the Army fighting troops should also have reached Guna and then Nazret.
All the troops regroup and attack Addis Ababa.

Fig 1. Prospective path of main troops fighting militia

Fig 2. Prospective strategic routes for support via subgroups fighting militia
 Fig 3. Strategic routes for movement of Ethiopian Army fighting troops

TIMELINE -
(To be added by Vidushi)

REFERENCES -
[1] https://books.google.co.in/books?
id=yQPNCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA209&lpg=PA209&dq=fissures+in+ethiopia&source=bl&ots=iZnZG
1b3NB&sig=w18YYKv3AkVxrGqYjscvMv2L04g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiE4aGKl93RAh
UfTo8KHVD5DxwQ6AEIRjAI#v=onepage&q=fissures%20in%20ethiopia&f=false
[2] http://www.axis-and-allies.com/military-tactics-feint.html
[3] http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/guns-1920-1929.asp
[4] http://www.znaci.net/00001/179.pdf