New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-07
ITALIAN PROGRESS IN AFRICA.
GREAT INCREASE IN POPULATION IN VARIOUS
TowNs-DEBEB's CAREER.

TOWNS-DEBEB' S CAREER.
The lates. cablegrams from Massowah relative TO
the capture of Debeb by Ras Alua and the march
On PAsmara, require few words OF explanation
While 1t is undoubted that the Italians are making
great prorress in .hcr double task Of conquering
sootboid I'm the Red Sea and civillzing the districts
tbcv occunv a certain mysterious obscurty has often
surrounded the details OF that second European-Abys-
sinian war For instance, II had been sta'eu DIS
fact that Ras Alula, the rghthahd man OF Negus
Johannes had been killed in the same battle at which
the MsAhlsts OF the SOudan defeated ana Klion inc
Ncgus himself. Now Ras Alua Is reported As b'los
alive and as willy he ever was he inNltcd 10
conference the famous Debeb, and had him captured on
Che way. Treason and bad faith have ever been
favorte weapons for Abyssnan cheftalns, and Debeb
has been paid in his own coin, if treason has really
brougbt him into the clutches of the valiant Ras OF
Viceroy. He betrayed his country soon afer inc
landing OF the Italians at Massowah. and then ne
TUNED against the latter being thus the mann ca"so
OF their slaughter at saati. At that time ne seht
his father a hostage to the camp OF the Negus, 10
whom the old man was faithful that he was Killed
Wills protecting the colin in which Johannes body
was carried by his retreatng army. The victorious
Madbsts captured the body and cut on the head which
is nailed on the gate OF the Khalfas palace at Ondr
man, opposite Khartoum.
Immediately after the defeat OF the Ncgus, DeDeb
again went oyer 70 the Italians. and helped them 10
winning one OF their most important successes by
the taking Of the city Of Kercn. 1t Is hard TO under
stand how he could have agreed 10 Join In con-
ference his deadlIest enemy Ras Alua. 1t may nave
been thai he hoped to gain the Ras 10 the Italians by
promising that they would assist him rather IMAM
Mencck TO the throne Of Abyssinla In when case
Debeb himself would have Leen considerable pro
NOTED from his present rank OF thiId-fae Du' III
dependent chieftan. 1t is more likely, however
that Deteb was preparing to betray the Italians for
and 10 fotn aTalp
patriots, thus expecting that he would be allowed to
run for the succssorship of johannes with chances
equal TO those OF Mangascia and other fcndal lords
II appears that Ras Alula was unwilling 10
consider the great advantages to be derived from
another betrayal OF the Italians by Debeb, and that
he has merely thought OF the SIN greater evils brought
his country by the traitors alliance with the In
vaders.
At any rate. General Baldissera and the Italians
are not TO be held responsible for the morality Of the
ambitious Debeb, whom they have used TO the best
of their interest. And, even now, II they have
suddenly determined TO send a battalion TO occupy
PAsmara It is probable that their pietext IS the
necessity of rescuing their friend Debeb from the
prison OF Ras Alula, whose headquarters are at
pAsmara The occupation Of that point, whenever
accomplished, Will make the Italians masters Of the
Abysslnlan northern province of Tgre, which is COM
manded by Kercn and 'rAsmara. called the Two
interior gates7 OF Abysslna- MassOwah is the ex-
terror gate" The conquerors will possess between
pAsmara and Kcrcn healthy district, which IS 50
greatly needed as a sanitarum for the soldiers and
inhabitants of Massowah. the hottest spot the
GLOBE as stated by many travellers.
Notwithstanding THIS terrible drawback. the city
and the country around have enormously increased
in population since the day when the italian ex-
petition instead Of seaming far Assab Bay its
officially objective point stopped at Massowah, where
the Egyptian Governor had been instructed. upon She
advice Of England 10 allow the flag Of Italy replace
the Khedves standard. According TO the latest
figures published by the Bureau of Indigenous Foreign
Affairs" at Rome, the city of MessOwah numbers az
present 100 Europeans. that U.s. white population
equal to the whole population In 1881. The indigenous
natives number than 10000 at Massowah,
90 900 al Otumlo. and many at Monkuo aud
Zaga The las two villages, which were In 1881
small and rude hamlets. have assumed the proportion
of real Another village has grown mp at Saau
5000 inhabitants and around the wells OF Arkiko,
clus er the cabins Of 10000 other natives The total
population of the Italian possessions between the
and the mountains OF Abyssinla Including Zula, Assab
10000 people, 10000 Of whom are scdentary and
1000 nomads, who camo down from the highlands
10 place themselves under the protection of the italian
flag.
has ably fulfilled her cvi8ing mission In Africa, and
the Chambers at Monte Citoro VIII not have TO regret
their recent vote Of money for che MassOwah exredi
ton. KeIcn has been promptly captured fAsmara
will follow suit, thus giving 10 the Italians che only
inland possession they wished, besides MassOwah viz
officials so terribly decimated by the sitting climate of
the coast.