Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-05
ROME A CITY OF MOURNING
Relatives Of italian Soldiers Anxiously
Await News Of Their Fate.
STARTLING RUMoRS IN CIRCULATION
Indignation of People OF italy Finds
Vent In Riotous Demonstrations
which Seriously Threnten
the Government.

In a condition Of excitement, grief and anger
almost beyond description. Words cannot
adequately portray the situation, for every
dispatch received from Massowah adds to
the gravity OF the disaster to the Italian
army at Adowa, Abysslnla.
When the first news OF General Baratierrs
defeat reached this city report had 1t that
only 500 men were killed; then yesterday
afternoon the numbers ran up to 1900 killed,
with sixty pieces of artillery captured. and
this mornings dispatches place the number
OF Italians killed at the battle of Adowa and
in the long, harassing retreat which fol-
lowed at 5000. and 1t is believed that not
even these figures tell of the full extent OF
the disaster.
In these rep'rts no mention is made Of the
wounded, and there is good reason, based on
stories of recent Italian defeats by the
Abyssinans, to believe that those who fell
wounded during the retreat Of over fifty
miles, met a more horrible fate than those
who were killed on the spot
Throughout the night the garrison here
was kept under arms and mounted patrols
traversed the principal streets. The masses,
however, do not seem to have retired to rest.
The streets were filled with people until day
break, and after early morning every pub
lie place was crowded with excited men and
women. A number of disturbances which
have callel for police interference have oc-
Cured today, and the indications are that
people are assuming most threatening att-
tude not only in Rome but throughout
Italy. Demonstrations against Crispis min
stry and even against the crown are re-
ported from number of towns in the
provinces. in spite of the fact that the au-
thortles are straining every nerve to sup
press all alarming news. 1t is said that the
government was aware on Tuesday OF the
full extent of the defeat inflicted upon the
Italians, but it 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 allowed 1t to be
''rumored" that 500 men were killed; after
this came the report that 5000 soldiers had
fallen. ana ncw it is admitted that 5000
Italian troops were slain, in addition to
large loss among the native troops serving
under the flag of Italy. Under these cir
cumstances IL is not astonishing that the
widest kind Of rumors are in circulation and
that in some of the clubs the number OF
killed and wounded is placed at 10000. Ex-
aggerated as these figures may turn out to
be they show the state of the public mind
here.
All fetes have been indefinitely postponed,
masses for the repose CT the souls OF the
dead have been celebrated this morning In
every Catholic church in this city. and crowds
of weeping women and sorrowing men were
in attendance. The receptions. ETC., in cele-
brat'on Of the coronation anniversary OF the
pope have been dispensed with
Rome in a word, is today city OF mourn
ing and of sulen anger, ready to break out
into fierce, open resentment. The govern
ment and the military authorities are charged
with gross mismanagement OF the Abyssnian
campaign, and great indignation is expressed
against the newspapers which have been
Ra
tauntng him with his inactivity. 1t is also
said now that the Italian commander was
led into trap, skilfully baited by the re-
port which was allowed to reach him that a
number of the important chiefs OF the Shoans,
attended by a portion of the Shoan army,
were attending the coronation Of King NegYs
at Axun, and that. hoping to surprise those
who remained behind, General Baratieri or
dered Generals Albertone, Arimondi and
Dabormida to attack the enemy. The latter,
it 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
Ifles, 1t is claimed, and supported by mod
ern artillery directed by French artillery
men, advanced upon the Italians In over
wheming strength. The apparently deserted
passes became alive with natives who hurled
rocks down upon the trapped soldiers, while
others kept terrible, well-directed fire upon
the troops.
and fed after making a gallant stand and
seeing thousands Of their number shot down
or crushed to death. Then 1t is added began
the most disastrous defeat In the history Of
African warfare, the triumphant shoans'
pressing on after the disorganzed soldiers,
cutting them down In great numbers, in
spite OF repeated formations OF squares. The
troops, in these stands, are said to have be-
haved 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 the Italian detachments
had only their bayonets with which to de-
fend themselves, and, 1t is feared, but a
small portion of the Italian force sent against
the Shoans reached Asmara in safety
The opposition party and socialists are TAX
ing advantage OF the situation. The latter
especially, are very bitter against the gov
ernment
PEOPLE ARE INDIGNANT.
Later in the day news from the provinces
became more alarming, 1t was stated that
In number of places the police have been
unable to cope with the popuace. and that
the troops have been called upon to restore
order The soldiers, however, appear to
have been as helpless as the police, and In
several places crowds have been hred upon.
At Milan the troops, after vainly trying to
disperse a mob which was making demonstra-
tlons against the government, were obliged
TO fire. One man was killed and several
were wounded. This increased the excite
ment, and report has " that the troops were
stoned, and had to clear the public square
at the point of the bayonet.
Dispatches received here from Venice say
that the most intense excitement prevails
there, and there were a numbr of riotous
demonstrations during the night. An inn
mense crowd OF people assembled at the
Piazza st. Mark, and there speeches were
made against the government condemnlng
the manner In which the Abyesinian campaign
had been conducted. and calling upon the
military authorities to try General Bara-
teri by court martial. There was another
popular demonstration AZ Venice this morn
Ing, and the mob was only dispersed by
the police with the greatest difficulty, and
after a number OF arrests had been made.
Advices received here from Padua say that
there MAS rotous demonstration today and
that the police had to interfere TO vestore
order. A mob marched through the streets
hooting the government officials and crying
for the dowpfall OF the Crispi ministry.
At Verona there was a similar domonstra-
tion against the government and a number of
socialists were arrested for stoning the police
aud utteriRg se1tious cries.
At Rovigo and in fact nearly every city
OF Importance throughout Italy the troops
are confined TO the barracks today and every
piecaution possible is being taken To pre-
vent disorder. II is believed, however, that
nothing short Of the downfall Of Senor
Crispi and the dispatch Of strong reinforce
-.