The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-23
KING JOHN ON THE WARPATH
The Descendant of the Queen of Sheba
About to Attack the Italian Forces.
Overwhelming Forces at the Disposal Of
the Negus-The Cause of the Dispute.
New York W orld.


like Suakim. is a fortified town, situated a
coral island, and connected with the mainland
by a long mole, or embankment 1t is prob
ably without exception. the hottest place on the
whole of that terrible Red sea coast Even in
midwinter the thermometer there is often above
100 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. and agues,
fever. and dysentery combine to make it al
most uninhabitable to Europeans. Thoroughly
enervated and demoraiized by prolonged stay
in this dreadful pest-hole, the unfortunate
Italian troops the OF
encountering an overwhelming force of
Abyssinians. The latter, entirely composed
of hardy mountaineers, of absolutely perfect
physique are probably the fercest race of war;
riors under the SUM- and. armed as they with
repeating rifles of the most approved pattern.
led by their clever General Ras-al- Loua and
assisted by the Cossack Holman Ashimoff and
his corps of free-lances they will have every
advantage against their brave but demoralized
italian adversaries. King Johns army numbers
sixty thousand well equipped men, backed
uu by irregular levies OF about as many more.
The great Gala tribe, which has with the past
fortnight contracted an alliance with the Negus,
places at his disposal a body Of some forty thou
sand splendly mounted and well harmed irregular
cavalry, while the corps of Cossacks under Ashi-
moff is composed of the very pick OF the scum
of Asia and Europe.
Massowah came into the possession OF the
Porte after the conquest Of Arabia Felix. ana
used to be governed by Pasha from CONSTANT
nople. AS the chief port on the African side of
the Red sea- it is the center of the trade between
Asia and the dark continent. Slaves and every
other kind of African merchandise have ever
found an outlet at Nassowah, whence the native
dhows transported them to Jeddah and other
ports the opposite Arabian shore. Turkey
made several expeditions from Massowah for
the purpose of conquering Abyssinia. but in
vain, and in 1866, when, owing to Great Brit
aims intervention at Constantinople. the Sultan
ceded Massowah and the whole OF its domin-
ions on the African coast line TO Egypt,
more than nominal. Khedive Ismail I'M
military stations several points of his newly
acquired territory. and notably at Massowah.
The latter. which had until then been used by
the Abyssinians kind of free port, was
brought under the rule of the Egyptian customs
system and not only was the Abysslnian trade
with the outside world subjected to an almost
prohibitive tariff, but orders were even issued
from Cairo that no guns, arms, or any kind of
materiel de guerre destined for Abyssln1an use
should be allowed to pass through Massowah.
Now. the latter place was the only outlet for
Abyssinian trade, and as there Is no other port
of which the Negus can avail himself Tor the
import and export trade OF his country, the
effect may be imagined. Before, however,
any attempt could be made by the Abyssinians
to counterfeit this disastrous state OF things,
the English expedition under Lord Napier took
place. The British invading army, which was
composed partly of native troops from the
highlands of Hindostan and partly OF Highland
Scotch regiments, all well-seasoned men, were
disembarked on the coast and marched at once,
without the slightest delay, onto the Abyssinian
plateau. The troops had, therefore, no time to
become subject to the enervaring influences OF
the fever-stricken climate the low-lylng
coast and were fresh and fit for fighting The
expedition was undertaken by the English gov
eminent for the sake.sf furnishing the King for
his barbarity to several English missionaries
and consular officials who had displeased him,
and within three weeks of its debarkation the
royal mountain stronghold OF Magdala had fall
en- and King Theodore died by his own hand.
The Abyssinians fought hard But at that
time they were neither as well armed nor as
thoroughly organized as theya are at present.
and moreover, the English had taken them more
or less by surprise Immediately after the fall
of Magdala the British troops re- embarked, TAX
ing along with them King Theodore's only son
and heir, who died four years later In England,
and is buried in St. Georges Chapel, within the
precincts of Windsor Castle
For a time the country was in a state OF an
archy but at length member of the late Kings
family, Prince Kassa by name, overcame his
adversaries, and after reducing them to the con-
dtion of vassal rulers. caused himself to be
crowned in 1872 as Johannes, Negus, or EN-
peror of Abyssinia. Mean while, however, the
Egyptians had not remained idle. Taking adj
van age of the chaos reignine in the kingdom.
they had largely encroached on Abyssinian ter
ritory and had taken possession OF the fertile
highland province of Bogos with its capital of
KERN, the northern frontier. thus isolating
more and more completely the new Neguss do
mnions from communication with the outer
world. Not content with this, the Khedive of
Egypt actually attempted to avail himself Of
petty insurrection against the Kings authority
further satisfy his greed for land ana his
superstition, and in 1875 sent an expedition I'M
der tue command of a Danish adventurer of the
name of Munzinger Pasha for the purpose of
conquerine another strip of Abyssinian territory.
By this time, however, the new Neeus was pre-
pared to meet him. and the whole of the Egyptian
force, numbering over two Thousand, was liter
ally annihilated and every soul massacred by
the Abyssinian monarch. A second expedition,
for the purpose of avenging the massacre OF the
first, was thereupon without delay dispatched
by the Cairo government under the command of
a Dutch officer named Arendrup Pasha, on whose
staff figured a Count Itchy, of Hungary, and
Arakel Bey the favorite nephew of Nubar, the
present Prime Minister of Egypt This second
expedition Jared the same fate as the first, and
not a single soul escaped alive to tell the tale.
More than ever determined to avenge these two
successive massacres a third expedition, consist
ing of over twenty thousand. maenihcenty
equipped and provided with "a large European
and American staff, was dispatched to Abyssnia
under the command of the khedive OF Egypts
son. Prince Hassan.
Notwithstanding the immense courage and
saeacity displayed by the American portion of
the staff it proved utterly impossible to get the
Egyptian soldiers. who we're mostly recruited
from the fellah classes, to stand up against the
onslaught of the Abyssiniaus, and again the
whole expedition was routed and annihilated
The late Gen. Lorng, who was chief of the staff,
and his American comrades escaped with their
lives as did also Prince Hassan. Before. how
ever being released, the King caused the latter,
in consideration of his being Mahometan, to be
branded with on the palm of each OF his
hands. 1t is for the purpose of hiding these
scars that Prince Hassan has never since been
seen without gloves.
Since then no further war has taken place be-
tween Egypt and Abyssinia- Several diplomatic
missions were dispatched. both by the Khedive
and by Great Britain. acting on behalf of EGYPT,
to the Negus. Among the number of ENJOYS
thus sent we find the names of Admiral Hewitt
and of the late Gen. Gordon Pasha- Authorized
by England and by the Khedve. these ENJOYS
promised 20 restore TO King John not only the
territory of Boghos, but also the much-coveted
port of Massowah. This was further agreed to
by both the English and Egyptian governments
when the Ayssinian Minister of Foreign Affairs
visited London and Cairoin 1884 on special
mission.
Pressure, however. brought to bear at
Constantinople. and when the time for the
render came the Italian government, by virtue
of an understanding with England and Egypt.
took military possession of Massowah. and is
now preparing to constitute the territory OF