Connecticut western news., 1888-01-04
KING JOHN ADVANCING.
THE ABYSSINIAN MONARCH ON
 THE WARPATH.
Three Columns of Troops Marshaled
 Against the Italians.

ROME, Dec. 28.-Advices from Massowah say that King John of Abyssinia is advancing upon that place by rapid stages. He has under his command three bodies of troops. The first column is marching via Antola and Algrab, the second via Adowa, while the route of the third column, which is composed of Shoans, is unknown.
 There is some probability that reports of this character may be exaggerated or other wise inaccurate, as they are likely to be deriv, d from native sources that are not wholly trust worthy. A the news from Abyssinia, how ever, for several days past has indicated that hostilities are about to begin. If this report is accurate it indicates that King John intends to bring the greater part of his available force into the field at the outset; doubtless hoping to overpower the Italians at the beginning of the fight by sheer numerical superiority In the war with England King Theodore was greatly weakened after his first reverses by the defection of some of his powerful chiefs. King John is doubtless aiming to prevent the weak ening of his army by similar causes.
 According to the above report it would ap- pear that the army of Tigre and Amara or, in other words, the organized forces of the two greatest provinces of the kingdom, are march ing toward Massowah in two columns, one starting from Adowa, about 15o miles from Massowah, by the usual route over the moun- tains, and the other from Antalo, nearly 900 miles from Massowah. This army, according to the best information the Italians have been dUlo GO SdGueI, IS dUouI CO,OOO St1ouS lldS lO, GOO guns of poor quality, tho rest of the army being equipped with lances and sabres. The generals in command of this army are Ras Araya and Ras Averra. They have large number of horses and oxen for the carrying of supplies.
 The dispatch also says that third column, composed of Shoans, is marching on Masso- wah by an unknown route. The Shoans have considerably more than twice as far to march the other forces. The army of Menelek of Shoa is without doubt the largest and best force at the disposal of King John. It num- bers eighty thousand warriors many of whom are armed with repeating rifles. When Mene- leck's soldiers captured Harrar nearly two years ago twenty thousand Remington rifles and large supply of munitions of war fell into their hands. This army, all or 8 part of which forms the third column mentioned in the despatch, is commanded by the two uncles of the Negus Menelek.
 The despatch does not mention the army of Ras Alula, about 5O, 900 strong, in thesextreme north of Abvssinia which is the hostile force nearest the Italian forts. A cablegram to an afternoon newspaper yesterday said that the Italian troops had been ordered to advance to the village of Asmara, about 50 miles from Massowah, where Ras Alula is in force on & great table land among the mountains, 5000 feet above the sea.
 No exact information about the strength of the Italian army has been published, but it probably numbers. including several thousand native allies, between 30, 900 and B, 900 finely equipped men. The Italians are eager for a fight, aud though much inferior in num- bers, their superiority to King Johns warriors is very great in point of discipline and equip ment.