The Allaneans received the message, and they had responded to it. The Allaneans would send help, and instructors, and money – but for the next few days the government of Ethiopia was on its own. All they could send for now was advice.
The mayor’s face was ashen as he spoke into the camera. He understood the need for the measures that he was about to enunciate but he was afraid, afraid of what they implied. At least I’m not a soldier. Nobody can expect me to be brave in this circumstance, he thought.
”Pursuant to the emergency… pursuant to the emergency situation, I am hereby announcing that bus services in the city will be reduced. The city workers will be entirely acting under the… the instructions of Colonel Nasse, of the Combat Engineer Branch… we are temporarily suspending the operations of all road works… “
He felt as if he was in a haze when he spoke the words.
construction permits are hereby suspended…
construction equipment to be temporarily put at the disposal of the armed services…
remain calm…
Other cities and towns were doing the same. The exact actions taken varied but the same principle remained – state of emergency declared, mass transit operations reduced, construction equipment put under military jurisdiction.
The clock ticked away.