New-York tribune., 1868-04-27
EUROPE.
,yn ,or THE ABYssNIAN WAR.

--,,ct,y IMPORTANT NEws--GREAT VICTORY OF
: GIN. xAPIER--MAGDALA CAPTURED-KING
TnEoDORUs SLAIN.
o, ATLANTIC tAtSaRiPH THE rRisrSE
LONDON. April 26-EvENING.-D Dispatches hayeJu Just
teen received from Abyssinia which give the follow
ING highly important and gratifying intelligence;
hattie was fought on Good Friday before Magdala
between the British troops, commanded oy Gen
Napier and the Abyssnian forces, under their hins'
in person. The latter were defeated anu retreateu
into the town. Their loss in killed and Wouhueo was
very heavy. On the Monday following all ms pre-
parations having been completed. Gen. Napier or
dsred an assault upon Magdala, and the town and
citadel were carried by storm King TheOdOrus was
slain. large number of his warriors were killed,
wounded and taken prisoners and the entire capital
remained in the possession of the British forces.
The loss of the British in killed and wounded was
small All the British captives were found in the
city alive and well, and free' Gen. Napers
instant return to the seacoast is expected.
HISTORY OF KING TIEoDORE-ORIGIN OF THE
WAR.
King TheOdOrus or Theodore of AbysSinia,
with wlOse and recent history every reader Of
newspapers throughout the world has become familiar in
consequeBee.Of his with England has been slain at
the storIGng Of his capital, Magdals, by the English
army. The original name of Theodore Dejajmatch
KaSai. He born OF humble parentage in Quarrel on
the borders of Western Amhara, and was educated in
convent which he placed under restraint by his
mother. lie escaped from the convent to his uncle,
Dejateh Cusnfu a noted rebel, with whom lie mbibed
taste for Wrlke pursuits and eventually became ruler
Of large portion OF Abyssina. Naturally ambitious and
polite he succeeded in enlatgng his authority seauuy
at expense Of the other Ras' Chiefs OF Abyssina
His power especially increased when In 1858 ne defeated
his fsther-inAaw, Ras Ali. and took him prisoner Az
length, he felt himself strong enough TO formally
clam the tkpone OF all Abyssina, and he crowned
"a such bv sse Abuna saaa the head of the Abyssinan
Church. s reign soon proved 10 be the most enecuve
aG ever nsa to tbs Soa1ee Of being on
terms OF friendship with the government ~hSn rGes
of Alden He therefore, resolved to assert the
rights assred TO him by virtue OF the treaty made be
tween GEa1 kritan and Abyssina in tho year 1872 ana
ratified in 1S5 in which Was stipulated that each state
should reeeaVe ehDassauors iroI tnS osi. ] I ~ MI
who had bczon for many years EhShsh C"isu az mas'
saWah. although not an accredited agent TO AbysSna
went to that country with presents for the people III
authority, and remained during war which broke out
the accession of Theodore. Unfortunately, Mr. Plow
peror TO a large extent, killed., and ms successor,
Mr. Cameron, informed. soon after his arrival in
IS67 BY King that lie desired 10 carry out the above
mentioned treaty he even wrote an autograph letter to
Queen Vcaoyia asking permission TO send embassy TO
london 4Ithough the letter reached England Tejru-
ary 1853 remained unanswered and the supposition
Mr. Stern missionary Who In book on A6yssiuia had
spoken dsespectfuy Of the King and who had renon-
sraed against the hoGgng to death OF Two interpreters
housed the Kings temper and year after having DIS
10 the missionary station seized the MISSIONARIES ana
put them IN chains lie also cast MI cameron htO pis-
on aud had him chained continually to an Abyssinan
soldier. Great excitement prevailed IN England
the arrival Of the news of this outrage
armed expedition having TO undergo many harhps IN
such warn climate it deemed best by the English
10 diplomacy IN Its efforts TO have the
prisoners ree2sed 1t was no until the second half of
August 1855, that Mr. Rassam an Asiatc by birth, was
q
received his arrival in February. letG IN truly
one ordered by the King But the hope thus raised
be disappointed. for when Mr. Eassam and the
other prs00ers were just on the point OF taking leave OF
the Emper they phi under arrest ana n0tned tnat
they would have to rea IN the country as state guests
until aSwer could be obtained TO another letter wnich
the King going 10 write to the Queen. HypocnSy.
mart in the character King Theodore FOR while he, in
letter to the queen ostensby attributed the
him in What the friendly relations OF the English and
Abyssinan nonarce> might be best extended ne treated
the prisoners with lenenCy only for short PERIOD aud
soon used 1lgor9as measures toward ihs victims. As
ised 'p p9i that Eng!sR French ard Turkish troops
their invade AbN~Slnla ittttt
Ss,SSary MAS Who % Was S asc the bearer Of letter
from Mr. Eassam, in which he requested tlat Engnsn
artisans b. sent 10 engage IN the ApysS1an service
English Government engaged some artlsans iof ie
notified the King that they would enter ms territory II he
would previously nberatc the cdpuNeS. Inc cOhoiloA
land Alirr exhausting al diplomatic resources 10
from Theodore the release OF the captNc me ng
STe war ua. chiefly to lc carried with the troops.
European and nave which in India had become accus-
toned To tEe hot climate. The first English troops made
their appea1ance in Oct. 1861 but 1t was not until the
close gear that the whole OF the army arrived Inc
cTpeiition as commanded by Gen. Sir Robert Napier,
heretofore Commanding General at Bombay Under him
acteJ a. rlaaanders Of divisions Sir Charles SteeyeW
and Cole Malcolm, while Cot Merewcihcr commanded
tile eayay. The distance from Massowah me landing
place of tbs troops Maala the capital Of Theodore.
i about ses. The English had 10 overcome great
difficulties, they have overcome them with remark
able energy King Theodore gradually retired before the
English without rskng battle until he reached his CAPT
tai Then the Gable issue of this morning informs
rs he uls!e a stand fought bravey for his crown.
hut ma vain lie was defeated the capital captured and the
King himself slain King Theodore was, on the whole,
tile greatest ruler Ahy has ever had even, accord
ing 10 Ensfsh accounts he cxceed In all manly pursuits
and his general polite and engaging Had he
avoided this foolish quarrel with England and proceeded
on the way of reform which he entered upon IN the be-
ginnnQ OF reign. ne would probably have played an
important part i'll the political regeneration OF Eastern
Africa.