The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-21
The English in Abyssinia.

From tho London Review. Government paper)
Somehow or other the Abyssnian expedition appears to
hang fire. Doubtless people in England anticipated much
rapid results from the descent of British army the
shores of the Red Sea- and it's operations against the semi
savage ruler of almost unknown country Distance dmn
shes difficulty both bodily and mental vision 1t is
hard realize that in such out Of the way place Abys
snia Magdala is far from Anneey Bay Edinburgh is
from London and that it must under the most favorable
conditions take Sir Robert Napier long to from the
port of debakaton to Magdaa as it would take army of
equal size that under him TO make its road from the
capital of England that of Scotland and to carry with it
all it's supplies of food ammunition and medicines only
for the advance but also for the journey Yet such
literally the case except that Sir Robert Napers task is
considerably difficult. The country which he has
traverse known only to be nterseced with tangled chains
of mountains and he suffers under the dsadvan
age of great scarcity if not absolute want of waer-a
disadvantage under which army has before operated
any great distance. The popular mind does not
nize these difficulties 1t only Magdala and the
captives in the distance and the popular voice appears
cned howl like spoiled child bubbering for the MOON
because the bright object affair OFT cannot be obtained IN
a moment.
The expedition undoubtedly detained by the petty
interference of the Government Of Bombay with the
mander-inchef The organization of the Land Transport
ainupon which, as was toreseen SO mqch wouq depend
was not allowed be conducted by Sir Robert Napier
even in accordance with his views The Government Of
Bombay may possibly have imagined that to itself
revealed miraculous method of organizing Transport
Train without much of controlling element and with almost
no discipline The miracle unfortunately, did not off
The first touch of African soil disspated the
fabric and the advanced portions of the Abyssnan exped
ton found themselves the shores of the Red Sea without
any adequate of locomotion. Matters went quickly
from bad Mules rayed lost and died of the
epidemic The Arab muleeers could not understand be
understood by, the Indian inspectors. In
such of confusion, perfectly wonderful that
many animals could be collected together necessary
feed from day day the parties employed In reconnoer
ing the country and the detachmens of troops employed in
road making stationed in the Komayo Pass
The reconnoering party which preceded the expedition
left Bombay the 10th of September and reached Massowah
on the first October. Massowah did not appear suitable
port of debarkao and the Sd the accommodating party
moved Annesey Bay Water was here found at miles
distance from the shore Unfortunately this water due to
late fall of ran and disappeared in few days Permanent
though SMALL supplies of water were however, found at
Komaylo and Wah fourteen and sixteen miles from the coast
Annesey Bay from the advantage of its harbor and from the
total of water selected the most favorable
pass to the highlands from the southern extremity of
Annesey Bay consumed valuable time, till the 4th OF No
vember when the accommodating party returned by the
18th of November the Komaylo Pass was explored to
within few miles of Senate and it found to be
practicable make road through it for the passage OF the
force The Huddar Pass then explored, but did not
offer equal advantages with that of Komaylo On the
9th of December Senate accordingly occupied by de-
achmen of infantry and guns The issue OF the dee
thus secured and working parties were posted at the
most difficult places in the pass to improve the road The
country towards Augera reconnoltereq puI lew supplies
found ard already evident that the shipping
must &c the mainstay of supply for the Expedition While
the passes being explored troops arrived and by the
Sd Of January when Sir Robert Napier IN person reached
native infantry battaons British baaons eight COM
panes of engineers and four batteries OF artillery encamped
Zoula scattered along the seventy miles which lie
between that place and Senate
Though the copmander-in-chef on his arrival found
troops he found little eIse The defective organization of