The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-05
italy Greatly EXCITED
The Growing Magnitude Of the
Abyssinian Disaster.
FIVE THOUSAND MEN SLAIN
Attitude OF the Roman POpulace Is
Threatening Rioters Are Fired Upon
at Mi,an-The Disturbances Else.
where story of the slaughter.

Rome, March 4.-The excitement,
grief and anger caused by the defeat
ot General Baratieri's forces in Abys-
sinia were increased this morning,
when dispatches We're received placing
the number of Italians killed ut the
battle of Adowa, and in the long, har-
raising retreat which followed, at s.
600. It. is not believed that even these
terrible figures really tell of the full
extent of the disaster. No mention is
made IN these dispatches OF the wound
ed and 1t is feared that those who fell
wounded during the long retreat, more
than fifty miles, according TO general
report. met a more terrible fate than
those who We're killed on the spot.
Throughout the night the garrison
here was kept under arms and mounted
patrols traversed the principal streets.
which We're filed with people all night.
t.arly in the morning every public place
was crowded with excited men and wo-
meu A number of disturbances, fol
lowed by arrests.N took place, and the
indications are that the people are TAX
ing IL very threatening attitude, not
only in this city. but throughout Italy.
Demonstrations against the Crispi min
istry and even against the Crown are
Reported from Il number of towns in
the authorities are Straining every
nerve to suppress all alarming news.
II Is said that the government was
aware yesterday of the fun extent OF
the defeat. but that il was Judged to
De dangerous to allow the information
to reach the public suddenly. The re-
port of the defeat, accordingly, was
allowed to leak out, and the War Of
lice. officials permitted II to be rum
orrd' that 500 men We're killed. After
this came the report that 1000 SOL
dierS had fallen, and now 1t is ad-
mitted" that 1000 Italian troops We're
slain. lin addition to severe loss among
tn. native troops serving under the flag
of Italy" The widest kind of rumors
therefore. are circulated ANA find be-
levers In some of the clubs the num-
her of killed and wounded is placed at
1000.
FF.TES POSTPONED.
All fetes have been indefinitely post
! poned and masses for the dead have
been celebrated this morning in every
Catholic church in this city. The TIE
Deum. by order of the pope, Will not
be chanted today in st. Peters. and
the receptions, etc, in celebration or
his coronation anniversary have been
abandoned.
The news from the provinces which
came later in the day was very alarm
ing. 1t was stated tt:at In Il number
of places the police had been utterly
unable to cone with the populace and
that the troops have been called upon
to restore order The soldiers appear
to have been as helpless as the police.
In several places the crowds were fired
upon. At Milan the troops, after Vainly
trying to disperse "a mob which was
making a demonstration against the
government fired a volley, mostly over
the rioters heads. One man was killed
and several We're wounded. This In
, creased the excitement, and 1t Is re-
ported that the troops were stoned and
had to clear the public square at the
point of the bayonet.
Dispatches received here from Ven
ice say that intense excitement prevails
there. and that there was Il number
| of riotous demonstrations during the
night \ large crowd assembled at the
Piazza san Marco and speeches We're
made against the government. con-
demning the manner in which the
Abyssinian campaign had been conduct
ed and calling upon the military au-
thorties To try General Baratieri by
court martial. There was another
popular demonstration against the gov
ernnent at Venice this morning, and
the mob was only dispersed by the po-
lice with the greatest difficulty and af-
ter u number of arrests had been made.
Just before noon today ii was an
/ nounced that General Baratieri had
been recalled to Rome, and that upon
his arrival here his conduct of the
present campaign and the defeat of the
Italians at Adowa would be inquired
into. The socialists claim that the gen
, eral should be shot as an example to
others and tina. the minister for war
should share his fate. General Baldis-
scra. who has assumed command of the
Italian troops in Africa. is preparing
long report on the battle of Adowa,
which will be forwarded as promptly
as possible to the war department here.
MILITARY CRITICISED.
The government and the military au-
| thorities are loudly charged with gross
mismanagement Of the Abyssinian
| campaign. and great Indignation IL eX-
pressed against the newspapers which
/ have been goading General Baratieri
| into action by tauntimg him with his
! inactivity. 1t is said now that the Ital
/ ian commander was led into Il trap
/ skilfully baited by the report which was
! allowed to reach him that Il number of
/ the important chiefs of the Abyssinians
! attended by a part of their army, We're
| attending the coronation of King Mem
| elek as Ne.us or emperor at ANun
| and that. hoping to surprise those who
remained behind General Baratieri or
! dered Generals Albertone, Arimondi
/ and Babmorida tn attack the enemy.
! The Abyssinians pretended to retreat
| before the Italian advance until the
| troops were well within the passes
leading to Adowa, the capital of Tigre
| Then they advanced upon the Italians
| in overwhelming strength. The appar-
emily deserted passes became alive with
! natives. who buried rocks down upon
| the trapped soldiers. while others kept
| w Il we'll l-dlrected fire upon the troops
! The Italians |! is said. broke and He'd
| after making a gallant stand and seeing
| thousands of their number shot down
| or crushed To death. The AbyssinianS
pressed on after the disorganized SOL
diery, cutting them down i'm great num-
| bers. The troops made repeated stands
| and are said to have behaved with great
gallantry. but all the reserve ammiIni-
tion was captured and the provisions
| and artillery fell into the hands of the
enemy A number of the Italian de
tachments eventually had only their
bayonets with which to defend them
| selves.
The news of the death of Generals
Albertone and Dabormida has been con-
firmed. and it is believed that more
| than 800 other Italian officers of differ
ent ranks have been slain.
| - . -