San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-03-05
ABYSSINIAN MASSACRE.
ITALIAN OFFICERS WERE FOOLISH
LY BRAVE, TROOPS OTHERWISE.
Orispi's Downfall Unavoidable-All Italy
Aroused-Furtber Particulars From
the Seat of War.

to the Herald from Rome says
Details of the number OF those
killed are still wanting in the &C.
count OF the dispersal of the Italian
troops at Adowa. The Italians had
been short Of supplies for eight
days. A large number of officers,
desperate at the defeat, rushed on
the enemy and died fighting heroi-
cally. The Abyssinians, taking
advantage Of the decentralization OF
their opponents, massacred entire
battalions, making use especially of
their lances. They cut off the
Italians in every direction. Gen.
Albertine's brigade was surrounded
and annihilsted.
The ministry Of war is over
whelmed with inquiries from rel
atives of those at the front. The
list of casualties will not be made
known for several days.
The survivors of tine battle are
wandering in the mountains, pur-
sued by the Abyssinians.
A Riccoti-Rudini cabinet Is al
most formed. The king continues
consulting with leading statesmen.
The greatest difficulties are put in
the way OF foreign journalists,
when they seek to telegraph such
meager news as has trauspired.
Several dispatches have been con-
fiscsted by the censor.
Gen. Baratieri's action is mex
plicable. On February 30 he tele-
graphed that the Abyssinians &C.
cupied an impregnable position.
Nevertheless, two days later he
advanced with $4,000 men and 50
guns to the attack of 100000 troops,
who were strongly entrenched.
The Italian commander was evil
IDENTIFY misled by the information
of his spies, who declared that
Menelik was not with his army, as
he had gone to be crowned.
The whole of the Italian army,
artillery and transport column
have fallen into the hands OF the
enemy.
A report received from Gen.
Baratieri proves that the Italians
gave away at the first attack, in
fact the native contingent behaved
better than the regular troops. In
Gen. Albertine's column the black
battalions fought bravely, while
the white regiments broke and ran.
Their officers, who made vain
efforts to rally their men, were
nearly all killed.
Gems. Dabormida, Armondi and
Albertine, and Col. Gilliano are
among the slain. The artillery
had not the time to come properly
into action before the rush OF
Abyssinians overwhelmed the
italian forces.
Gen. Baratierl, before risking
battle, consulted his generals and
they were unanimously in favor Of
taking the offensive.
The main body Of the Italian
army Is concentrated at Asmara.
The rear guard, consisting of 5000
men, is at Addicaye, to cover the
line of retreat.
Such are the details that have
transpired here.
Gen. Mocenni, the minister OF
war, hewever, refuses to make any
communication to the press.
Signor Di Rudini, yesterday, re-
ceived a dispatch from Massowah
Go k;p ~ that Tho dioo ofar u,oo irra-
parable. Several generals were
said to have been taken prisoners.
The number of those killed is
much smaller than was originally
reported.
An official dispatch from Erythea
states that all is quiet. Menelik Is
advancing toward Msssowah. All
the transport vessels available are
concentrated at Naples in readi-
ness to embark troops for Abys-
sinia.
Dispatches to Gen. Baldisseria,
the newly appointed commander
in-chief, asking HIM to telegraph
how many men he wants, have
been sent to the front.
At Pavia, crowd Of men, women
and children stormed the railway
station, where train filled with
troops bound for the seat of war
was standing. The soldiers were
dragged from the carriages and the
rails were torn up to prevent the
train from proceeding. 1t required
more than energetic attention on
the part of the authorities to clear
the station and restore order.
At Naples the students OF the
university held demonstration to
denounce the policy of the govern
ment. At the conclusion of the