Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-09
! BRIGHTER ASPECT.
italian Affairs in Africa Not
So Black as Painted.
Thu Commanding General Has 1000
Troops at His Command.
A Cheering Dispatch is Received-The Rioting
Is Still Going On.

Rome. March S.-The African crisis as
sumed somewhat brighter aspect sat
urday as a result OF the receipt at the war
Office of dispatch from General Baldis-
sera, commander of the Italian forces, an
nouncing that the situation is not so des-
perate as is generally imagined. He says
he has Is, 900 troops at his disposal, with
out counting the garrisons Of the forts and
the reinfobcements, amounting to 1000
men, now on their way TO Massowah.
But the general urgently requests the i'm
mediate dispatch OF ammunition and sup
plies and, particularly artillery, of which
he stands greatly in need, as about 20
pieces are believed to have been captured
by the Shoans In the meanwhile every
thing possible is being done to relieve the
garrisons of Cassala and Adlgrat.
The war office has not yet made public
its estimate of the number killed wounded
and missing of the army defeated at
Adowa, but the general opinion is that
the number killed is about 5000. There
are 10 means OF ascertainIng the number
OF men captured by the Shoans. Ii it now
admitted that General Dttbormida was
Killed; but the fate of General Albertone
has not yet been definitely ascertained
General Arimoudi and Colonel GallIouo.
with about 3O Italian soldiers, are r.
ported to be among the prisoners in the
hands OF the ShOans
The Itibuna declares that the matter is
not "A simple question Of crisis in Africa or
in Italy. Ii maintains that the honor of
Italy is involved, and urges the ministry
to adopts
Policy Of tneompromisins Revenge.
The Socialist deputies have issued IA
manifesto 10 the country, urging that the
deoplc join ina demonstration calculated
To urge the government to decide upon
abandoning the costly colonial policy and
Withdraw the Italian troops from Africa
The future, 1t Is said, may depend con-
siucraby upon the secret mission, which
II j. reported. has been entrusted To sig |
franzoic. cine explorer. According to the |
runner, which cannot be verified, Erauzoie |
will go 10 Abyssinia with instructions To
prepare the groundwork for an honorable |
peace between Italy and that country
As cabled, there was no truth in the re- !
port circulated in Paris, Brussels and |
Toulon that Premier Crispi had been as |
sossinated The denial afforded much re- |
lief to the many friends of the Italian |
statesman who heard the report and tele-
graphed here for information on the sub |
Ject.
There was still further rioting at Milan |
Friday evening. Store windows We're
shattered with stones and infantry sol /
diers, while trying to disperse the mob,
were stoned Finally two sQnadrons of
covalry were ordered to charge the rioters
and rode into the mob with drawn
swords, prcking the NEST prominent of
the mob leaders with the points of their
weapons or hitting them with the fiat OF
their sabres. The mob replied with show
ers of stones and shot from revolyers
During the scrimmage IL soldiers and IL
rioters We're woundcd.
Train Service Abandoned.
Train service to and from Milan has been
suspended, us the mobs attack all trains
attempting to leave or enter that city
The agitation is due to the fierce opposi-
ton of the populace to the departure of
the troops, relieved by the calling out of I
the reserves of the class of 1874 Crowds,
are constantly assembled in ff0aS Of The
different barracks of the troops SHOUTING
to the latter, DO not go to Africa, y etc. 4
One detach ment of troops which was ON
its way TO the coast for shipment to Mas
SoWah was eHtrillleu ala SUBURB OF Milan, |
that being the only manner in which it
was possible to get the men away and
avoid the mob.
y big anti-African meeting is being or
gained at Milan, and steps to hold sim
liar assemblages are being taken i'll other
large cities. The object of all the meet
ings is to urge the government to abandon
the policy hitherto followed by Italy in
Africa, to conclude peace with Abyssinia
and bring home the Italian troops.
Disturbances of description similar to
those ut Milan occurred at PAWS, Turin,
Naples, Ficsnza and Ravenna.
The troops forming the garrisons oil
Milan ana Florence almost broke out into
open mutiny Saturday, but they were
Gained by their officers.