The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-19
BARATIERPS BAD BREAK

BARATIERrS BAD BREAK.
Rome, March 13.-Orders have been
sent from the war office to Massowah
that the report of Generals Baldissara
and Baratieri on the defeat of the Ital-
ians at Adowa is to be supplemented by
the forwarding to this city of II number
| or important witnesses of the engage
ment: 1t was at first proposed to court
| martial General Barateiri at Massowah.
In fact, that idea has not been entirely
| abandoned, but there were so many ut
| terances of disapproval in the press when
| the plan was outlined that it is under
stood that General Ricotti has decided
| to have the unfortunate officer tried in
| public and in this city. There is a
strong movement, however, among GER
| tain military men and others to have the
trial conducted in secret, as it is feared
that revelations may be made which
VIII not strengthen the case of Italy be-
fore the world. But the general public
demands publicity in the matter and it
is believed that the war Office authori-
ties will have to bow to the popular will.
Every fresh advice from Africa only
tends to confirm the most alarming re-
ports as to the extent of the disaster at
Adowa, and although official figures have
not been made public, it is admitted that
over 1900 men were killed. wounded
or made prisoners. 1t is believed that
the loss of the Abyssinians was almost
as great. The Abyssinians captured al
most all of the Italian artillery, ammu
milton and supplies.
General Baratieri. however. repeats
that the disaster, though unavoidable
under the circumstances, was not due
to any desire to strike Il big blow before
the arrival from Italy of his successor,
General Baldissara.
He claims that the plan of battle was
carefully mapped out between himself
and his generals; that all the latter APP
proved it and that it would have sue
ceeded had it not been for the fact that
the native troops under the Italian flag
became panic stricken and so brought
about the complete defeat of the Italian
forces
Disinterested judges still hold that the
real cause for the defeat of the Italians
is to be found in the almost unceasing
clamOr of certain newspapers of this
city and other parts of Italy mt the al
legged action of General Baratieri.
These apparently unjust comments upon
his conduct of the campaign seem to
have goad6d him to push forward when
good generalship would have avoided
such step until the plans for the ad-
vance upon Tigre were completed, which
is not believed to have been the case,
MS over 10000 achievements were on
their way to General Baratieri when
the news of his utter defeat was flashed
from MaSSowah.
Politics. it also appears. may have
entered somewhat into the situation, for
Baratieri was recently elected deputy
elected as n mark of public approval
of his previous victories in Africa and
he met the great check which has wiped
him out of political and military life
forever.
IF he had only waited for his rein
forcements, say his friends. And
there seems to be the key to the whole
trouble. The general did not wait for
his reirforcements and the real cause of
his failure to do SO may be found in
his possible political future, which was
| newspapers at his alleged inactivity,
when. as everybody knows clearly he
should have remained inactive for quite
time longer. But the new troops also
meant the coming of new commander
and, although Baratieri denies it, this
may have been another feature of the
case and another indirect cause for the
great disaster.
There seemed to be two elements in the
uprising. one of peasantry, discontinued
and suffering with heavy taxation, and
the other melted by socialistic clubs
known as the Easel del Lavoratori. The
latter was shown to be supported libcr-
ally with arms and money and was in
tended to spread rs a revolutionary move
ment to Italy. There was no further de-
velopment of the plot in Italy, however.
than slight outbreaks in the province of
Massa Carrara and at Leghorn.
Signor Crispi. in speech at the time,
| asserted that these revolutionary aSSo-
Citations had 219,000 members. This
state of things, he maintained. justified
the extreme measures that had been
| adopted.
The deputy, Signor Defaci Gullitti. who
was arrested because of his connection
with the outbreaks. was condemned in
the loss of his position as deputy and to
Is years solitary confinement. while
Others arrested with him were sentenced
similarly, though the periods of imprison- |
ment were diminished.
The Italia Nlilitiare asserts that il has
good authority for stating that Emperor
Menelik's proposals of peace are honor |
able and advantageous to Italy.