Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-04

Abyssinian campaign and the colonial pol
all such news. 1t is known, however, that
the authorities are greatly alarmed, and
that further disturbances have taken place
in number of the. large cities. Details are
awaited with considerable anxiety.
Gen. Bnrntieri Recalled.
Shortly before noon: today It was an
ncunced that General, ,Baratieri had been
recalled to Rome and that upon his ar
rival here his conduct of the present cam
paign and the defeat at Adowa will be
inquired into.
The socialists declare that the general
should be shot as an example to others,
and that the minister for war should share
his fate.
General Baldissera, who has assumed
command of the Italian troops in Africa,
Is preparing a report on the battle of
Adowa, which will be forwarded as
promptly as possible to the war department
here.
Rome is city of mourning and Of sullen
anger, which may break into a fierce. open
rebellion. The government and the mill
tary authorities are charged with gross
psign, and great indignation is expressed
against the newspapers which have been
gcading Gen. BardteH into action by
taunting him with his inactivity.
The anarchists and socialists are taking
advantage of the situation. The latter es-
pecially are very hittersaeainst the goverl-
C.ent.
Calling Out the Reserves.
The army reserves Of 1872 numbering about
5000 men, are being called to the standard
but it is feared that there will be serious
ricting when the men muster in large bodies
at their different centers. The people are
n:urmuring greatly at being deprived of the
heads of families who must now be placed
Under arms, and as each hour passes the
situation becomes more and more perilous.
The newspapers, as rule, are filled with
abuse OF the military authorities and of
condemnation for the manner in which the
Abyssinian campaign has been conducted.
All sorts of charges of gross incomDetency
are made, and nothing short of a most
thorough public Investigation will satisfy
The war office is is Iseeiyinx dispatche.
from all parts Of the scoui try asking for
l.sts of the killed and wounded; but some
time must eIapse before this can be fur
nished. .r
Led Into Ambush.
1t is SAID now that the Italian commander
was led into a trap skillfully baited by the
report which was allowed to reach him
that number of the important chiefs Of
the Shoans, attended by portion of the
Shoan army, were attending the coronation
of King Negus. at Axun, and that, hoping
to surprise those who remained behind,
Gen. Baratieri ordered Gems. Albertone,
Ar-mondi and Dabormda to attack the
enemy. The latter, it appears, pretended
to retreat before the Italian advance until
the troops were well within the passes
leading to Adowa, the capital Of Tigre.
Then the scene changed. The Shoans,
armed with the improved French military
r.fes 1t Is claimed. and supported by mod
ern artillery directed by French artillery
men, advanced upon the Italians in over
whelm!ng strength, while the apparently
deserted passes became alive with natives,
who hurled rocks down upon the soldiers,
while others kept up a terrible well-directed
fire upon the troops.
Broke and Fled.
Ugly rumor adds that the Italians broke
and fled. after making a gallant stand and
seeing thousands of their number shot down
or crushed to death. Then, it is added, be-
gan the most disastrous defeats in the his
tory of African warfare, the triumphant
shoars pressing on after the d.sorganized
soldiers, cutting them down in great num-
squares. The troops, fn these stands, are
said to have behaved with the greatest gal
lantry, but all the reserve ammunition was
captured, and all the Italian provisions ard
artillery fell into the hands of the enemy.
The result was that a number of the Ital-
Ian detachments had only bayonets with
which to defend themselves, and 1t is
feared. but small portion of the Italian
fcrce sent against the Shoans reached AS
mara in safety.
The news of the death of Gems. Albertone
and Daborm.da has been confirmed, and it
is believed that over 500 other Italian off,
GERS of lesser rank have been slain.
Abyssinia is an isolated country of east
ern Africa, consisting of three divisions
Amhara, Tigre and Shoa. The area is about
100000 square miles; the population about
3,UU,OOO; mixture of many races, warlke
and uncivilized. Adowa is the capital of
Ilgre, Ankobai Of Shoa and Gondae of
Amhara. This Is theT third severe defeat
that the Abyssinians have inflicted Upon
the Italians since the latter attempted to
extend their power in the domain Of King
Meneiek, according to the New York Sun
ABOUT three months ngo FIVE companies of
ltanan troops, UNDER cOnnand Of Major
'Tossellf, were surprised and surrounded by
force of 25,O0O Aby1iniaas. The Italians
made desperate Resistance, and fought un-
til their ammunitfpneW4se exhausted, when
the Abyssinians charged npon them and
massacred nearly the whsle force. Four
teen ltallan officers and OVER 700 men were
killed. Only small nunbsr of the Italians
succeeded IN breaking through the belea-
guering lines and making their escape to
Makalle.
Subsequently the xAbysmnians besieged
Makalle, and, after peagtically reducing it,
allowed the garrison to- evacuate the place
ana retreat with their arms and baggage
Ihls was the second great Beverse for Italy.
UNION PACIFIC EARNINGS.
Testimony of Freight Tramc Nam