Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-03-11
Italian Defeat in Abyssinia Worst
in Modern Times:
HONE PEOPLE ARE ENRAGED
Riots and Disorders I'm Most of the
Cities Against the Disgraced
Ministry.


port, although the exact number of kill
ed is not announced. General Bara-
tieris force consisted of 16 battalions of
white troops Qtalians), six battalions OF
native troops and IL batteries of artil-
lery. Generals Albertone and Arimondi
and their brigades are also missing, and
1t is believed they have been annihll-
ated.
1t is impossible to describe the state
of excitement in Rome this evening.
The whole population seems to be in
the streets, and the entire police force
and troops OF the garrison are on
duty.
1t is said that the government was
aware on Tuesday of the full extent
of the defeat inflicted upon the Italians,
but 1t was judged to be dangerous to
allow the startling information to reach
the public suddenly, and so first the re-
port of the defeat was permitted to
leak out. Then the war officials al
lowed it to be "rumored" that 500 men
were killed. After this came the report
that 5000 soldiers had fallen, and now
it is admitted" that 5000 Italian troops
were slain, in addition to a severe loss
among the native troops serving under
the flag OF Italy. Under these circum-
stances it Is not astonishing that the
widest rumors are in circulation, and
that in some of the clubs the number
of killed and wounded is placed at 10,-
600.
All fetes have been indefinitely post
poned, masses for the repose of the
souls of the dead have been celebrated
in every Catholic church in this city,
and crowds of weeping women and SCR
rowing men were in attendance. The
receptions, etc, in celebration of the cor
onation anniversary of the pope have
been dispensed with. Rome, in a word,
is today city of mourning and of sui
len anger, ready to break out into fierce
open resentment.
The government and military author
tiles are charged with gross misman-
agement of the Abyssinia campaign.
and great indignation is expressed
against the newspapers which have
been goading General Baratieri into ac-
ton by haunting him with inactivity
1t is also said now that the Italian
commander was led into a trap skill
fully baited by the report which was
allowed to reach him that a number
of important chiefs of the Shoans at
tended by portion of the Shoan army,
were attending the coronation of King
Negus at Axun, and that hoping to sur
prise those who remained behind, Gen
eral Baratieri ordered Generals Alder
tone, Arimondi and Dabormida to at
tack the enemy.
The latter, 1t appears. pretended to
retreat before the Italian advance until
the troops were well within the passes
into Adowa, the capital of Tigre. Then
the scene changed. The Shoans, armed
with the improved French military
rifles and supported by modern artill-
cry, directed by French artillerymen,
advanced upon the Italians in over
whelming strength, while the apparent
ly deserted passes became alive with ma
tives, who hurled rocks down upon the
trapped soldiers while others kept up
a terrible and well directed fire upon
the troops.
Ugly rumors ada that the italians
fled after making a gallant stand and
seeing thousands of their numbers shot
down or crushed to death. Then, ii is
added, began the most disastrous de-
feat in the history of African warfare,
the triumphant Shoans pressing on af-
ter the disorganized soldiers, cutting
them down in great numbers, In spite of
repeated formations of squares. The
troops In these stands are said to have
behaved with the greatest gallantry
but all the reserve ammunition was
captured and all the Italian provisions
and artillery fell into the hands of the
enemy.
The result was that a number of
italian attachments had only their bay
onets with which to defend themselves.
and it is feared that but a small por-
nP t,a !,
Shoans reached Asmara in safety.
The newspapers report that at the
cabinet meeting this afternoon the min
istry resolved that they would resign
rather than force the crisis.
Crispi, 1t Is further reported, subse-
quently informed King Humbert of the
decision arrived at. Further details
are being received this evening of vio-
lent scenes enacted today at different
points all over Italy, which the govern
ment had sought in vain to prevent
the publication of.
The aiarmist rumors which were cir
culated earlier in the day are confirm
ed by the later reports, and the whole
of Italy seems to be in the hands of
the aroused populace, indignant at the
government. which Is apparently pow
erless to quell the outbreaks of wrath.
At Milan 10000 persons took part in
disorders amounting to popular uprls-
ing. The police were forced to charge
through the streets with fixed bayonets
before they succeeded in dispensing the
mob.
A large number of persons were in
jured.
In Rome papers containing pictures
of Signor Crispi were burned in the
public streets with every accompanl-
ment of contumely and wrath expressed
against the premier. Many arrests were
made
At Pavia~ the population turned out
en- masse to protest against the dis
patch of further troops to Africa. Some
OF the reinforcements designed for the
relief of the army in Abyssinla were to
depart from that city today. But they
were taken possession of bodily by the
rioters, in whose ranks were Included
many women and children. The soldiers
were forced out OF the cars in which
they had taken their places preparatory
to their departure, and the mob tore
up the-rails along the track and made
the soldiers promise not to leave the
town.
1t is said tonight the resignation of
the ministry will be formally announced
to parliament tomorrow. After 1t has
been done, both houses will adjourn
and await the decision OF King Hum
bert upon what action he win take.
The Offices and residences of all the
ministers are guarded and the guards