The New York herald., 1868-04-27
ImDorfn1t from siAbyssiHa-St0rmsng and
Capinre OF the Enemy's Ssronsioid-Ki Hing
af the Eing.

7
Cnpinrs OF the Enomy's sssronstoid-Kiliins
of the EinE.
Our special cable dispatches from London,
dated yesterday and published in this morn
ing's issue, give Important intelligence from
Abyssinia. The British forces having come up
with the enemy two severe engagements we're
fought, one on the 10th inst (Good Friday,
resulting in the defeat of King Theodorus'
army with heavy loss, the casualties on the
side of the British amounting to one officer
and fifteen men wounded Evidently hopeless
of maintaining his position, the King sur
rendered up the European oaptives who were
the cause of the war, but refused to yield up
himself and his army. General Napier then
gave him twentyfour hours to decide, but it
would seem that the African monarch remained
determined upon resistance. The . British
army was by this time in front of Shilassc, and
was preparing to storm it when, on the l3th
the chiefs in command surrendered this fornida-
BILE position, apparently without attempting to
defend it, and many thousands of their soldiers
threw downtheir arms and gave themselves upto
that the reverse of the 10th had so dishcarten-
ing an effect upon the Abyssinians that they
became quite demoralized. The surrender of
Shilasse and the detection of the great body Of
his army compelled the king to retire inside the
fortress Of Magdala, accompanied by the rem
him. He was vigorously followed by the Brit
ish, who on the same day (the l3th) assaulted
and carried The fortress by storm, with loss
TO the Abyssinians, according to the first re-
ports, of sixiy-eight killed and two hundred
wounded. The loss Of the British was small
Among the Abyssinians killed was King
Theodorus, who was found dead having re-
ceived shot through the head. Our special
correspondent in Abyssina states that some
asserted he was killed in battle, while others
affirmed that he committed suicide-in the
latter event, we presume, to prevent his cap
ture by the British. General Napier, in his
report TO Sir Stafford Northcote, states that
the King was killed defending his position to
the last. The fortress OF Magdala is described
rs having been of ''barbaric splcndor." 1t
was plundcred by the troops, who obtained,
among other booty, four gold crowns, twenty
thousand dollars, thousands of silver plates and
large quantity of jewels. The object of the
expedition having been accomplished the
British army was to return Immediately, the
released captives having already started for
Europe.
1t must be admitted that the British have
k,s,, .hnJ In lr:o e
than even themselves expected. The detection
of the Kings soldiers, added to the surrender
of Shilasse, were no doubt the principal causes
Of this easy and almost bloodless success.
Hitherto the expedition has not been a very
popular one in England, where long and
expensive war was apprehended. Indeed, but
for the circumstances which attended the
downfall of Theodorus, it is probable that the
rainy season, now near at hand, would have
arrived and found the Abyssinians still de-
fant; and in such an event cessation of
hostilities, ii not n retreat, would have been
the result. The war being over and the British
triumphant, however, the question arises as TO
what the future plans and purposes ofthc victors
are. The death of King Theodorus, who was
the only modern negro monarch that succeeded
in maintaining any semblance of government
in Africa, will throw Abyssinia into a state of
anarchy-if the Africans were ever in any
other state. Will the British retire from the
country altogether, or will they walt until the
rainy seasons are over and then again advance
and take permanent possession Of the deceased
monarch's territory? II is quite certain that
il they pursue the iirst course it will be an in
novatiOn upon the past policy Of Great Britain.
We rather think that in few months Abyssinia
will be added to the dependencies Of Queen
Victoria in Africa. The natives are not able
to offer any effectual resistance, and il remains
to be seen whether France will object. AT
any rate the Interior purpose Of the British
government will be developed before long and
the fate of Abyssinia finally decided.