The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
ROME HOWLS.


on Tuesday OF the full extent of the de-
feat infiic,ed upon 1.-The Italians, but 1t
was judged to be dangerous TO allow the
startling information 10 reach the public
suddenly and SO the first report OF the
defeat was allowed to leak out, then the
war Office officials allowed II to be "ru-
mored" that 800 men were killed. Alter
this came the "report" that 300 soldiers
had fallen and now IL Is "admitted" that
1000 Italian troops were slain, s'in addi-
tion to severe losses among the native
troops. serving under the nag OF Italy,"
Under these circum stances Ii Is now as
tonishing that the widest rumors are in
circulation and that In some OF the clubs
the number OF killed and wounded Is
placed at 10000. These figures may turn
out TO be exaggerated; hut they show the
state of the pubic IT. ind here.
All fetes have been indefinitely post
poned, masses for the repose of the souls
of the dead have been celebrated this
morning i'm every Catholic church, and
crowds OF weeping women and sorrowing
men were in attendance. Rome. In
word, is today city OF mourning and
of sullen anger ready to break out into
fierce, open resentment. The government
and the IN litary authorities are loudly
charged with gross mismanagement OF the
Abyssinian campaign and great indigna-
tion is expressed against the newspapers
which have goaded General Baratier, ipto
act ion by taunting him with his inactivi-
ty. IL Is also said now that the Italian
commander was led into trap, skilful-
ly baited by the report which was al
lowed to reach him that a number of
the important chiefs OF the Shoans
attended by portion of the Shoan army
were attending the coronation OF King
Megus, at Axun, and that, hoping to sur
prise those who remained behind Gen.
Baratieri ordered Generals Albertone,
Arimondi and Dagbormida to attack the
enemy. The latter, 1t apears, 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
rifles, II is claimed, and supported by
modern artillery, directed by French art1l-
lerymen, advanced upon the Italians in
overwhelming strength, while the appar-
emily deserted passes became alive with
natives who hured rocks down upon the
trapped soldiers while others kept up
terrible well-directed fire upon the troops
within a narrow range.
Rumor adds that the Italians broke and
fled after making gallant stand, and
seeing thousands OF their number shot
down or crushed to death. Then, II Is
add ed, began the most disastrous defeat
in the history of African warfare, the
triumphant Shoens pressing on after the,
disorganiZed soldiery, cutting them down
in great numbers in spite OF repeated
formations of squares. The troops in
these stands aresaid to have behaved with
the greatest gallantry; but all the reserve
ommnnltion was captured ana all the
Italians provisions and artillery fell into
the hands of the enemy, and IL is feared
but a small portion Of the Italian force
sent against the Shoans reached Asmara
in safety. But, days must elapse before
the tale of war horrors can be accurately
told.
Later in the day news from the pro-
yinces stated that in number of places
the police have Teen utterly unable to
cope with the populace and that the
troops have been called upon to restore
order.
Dispatches received here from Venice
say that the most intense excitement pre-
walls there and that there were a number
OF riotious demonstrations during the
night. Al Padua there was riotous
demonstration and the police had to in
terfere to restore order, At Verona there
wasa similar demonstration against the
government and, in fact, in nearly every
city of Importance throughout Italy. 1t
IL believed that nothing short of the
downfall of Senor Crispi and the dispatch
Of the strongest possible reinforcsments
TO Africa, will satisfy public clamor.
Shortly before noon today II was an
nounoed that General Baratieri had been
recalled TO Rome.
General Ealdizzera, who has assumed
command OF the Italian troops in Africa,
is preparing a long report on the battle of
Adowa which will be forwarded as
promptly as possible to the war Depart
ment here.
he army reserves OF 1872, numbering
about $4,000 men, are being called TO the
standard, but 1t is feared that there will
be serious rioting when the men muster
in large bodies at their different centers.
The people are murmuring greatly at be-
ing deprived OF the heads OF families,
who NUT now be placed under arms,
and the newspapers, as rule, are flied
with abuse of the military authorities,
and condemnation for the manner in
which the Abyssinian campaign has
been conducted.