Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-06-25

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soldier now Shout
dering musket In Abyssinia there
are at least eight half-cIyil-
lied and yelling barbarians and fanat-
les, splendid warriors and SO well
armed that the troops Of the Quirlnal
can make no Roadway at all The cam
paign Is the last OF the wars against
savage hordes that have been raging,
and its strange feature is that the
sayages seem to be getting the best of
the game.
On December the crafty Abyssln-
ians, 10000 strong started out to strike
an effective blow upon the invaders, and
they surrounded and moved down $500
of King Humbert's men, not allowing a
single Italian to escape their rifles and
keen two-edged swords,
AT first sight this does not seem to
be an important conflict, but, as a mat
ter of fact, its import Is tremendous.
For it concerns the foreign policy of
Italy, and in it are involved two other
European nations-France and Russia.
1t is the great Italian statesman Crspi's
fight, and his alone, for every other
politician in the Chamber at Rome dep
recates the war. Any day Cabinet
crisis may result in the downfall Of that
doughty Prime Minister who planned
this campaign and is carrying it
through against the protests of King
Humbert himself
But Italy, once having started this
war, must fight it out or give up all her
territorial possessions on the Red Sea.
In any case she may have to do this, for
Russia has long been casting envious
eyes on these lands, and 1t Is now an
open secret that Menelek, King Of Abys-
sinia, the "Negus,' has sent a special
envoy to the Car to ask for a Russian
protectorate.
France, Rusa's avowed ally, has her
own little finger in the pie, having, ever
since the commencement Of the war,
supplied the Abyssinians, in secret,
with the finest rifles, and with shells
and ammunition. There will be some
pretty pickings for these two powers if
Italy can be driven out of Africa.
Wearisomely does the war drag itself
along. Score after score Of indecisye
battles have been fought-indecisivc
because while the Abyssinians have
prevented the Italian troops from get
ting further than their foot hills, they
have yet been unsuccessful in driving
these enemies out of the province Of
/ Tigre, which is the bone that is now
being cOntended for. With Tigre once
fully in the hands of the Italians, Abys-
sinia, while not fully theirs, is in fair
way to be conquered. With Tigre lost
to them not even the Italian possessions
on the banks of the Red Sea and CEN
tering about Massowah, the seaports
are secure. 1t is more than Abyssinia;
Italy in Africa is at stake.
1t has been demonstrated that these
savages of the hills are not only good
soldiers, but they have good generals
directing them. One day the news may
come that the Italian troops have been
cut off from their landing place and base
of supplies, Massowah. For, gradually,
King Menelek, through his commander
in the field, the "Ras" Makonnen, has
been deploying his crude and savage
battalon3 so that instead of facing the
Italians a large number have crept al
most to the Italian rear, and are very
nearly in control of their enemy's line
of retreat.
Once having possession of this Meme
lex will commence the famous strategic
plan that he has tried several times be-
fore, and with good success-that OF
bringing his troops gradually together
In a great circle to close in upon his
enemies like the jaws of vice. This
movement is already in operation, and
yet the Italian general, Baratieri, either
does not see it or has not the power to
turn it aside.
He is a good man, this Baratieri q
trained Italian officer, man of force
and decision. But he seems to be nc
match for this savage Napoleon, the
"Ras" Makonnen. This Abyssiniar
General of the deflles and hills, an ig-
norant black, yet is genius Of war
Almost is he Toussaint lOuyerture
and although Menelek knows we'll thai
he has an eye on the throne himself
yet he, the King, realizes that this black
General holds the fate of the kingdom
in his two powerful hands.
The "Ras" Makonnen is massively
built, broad shouldered Ethiopian
None of the common, savage African
blood is in his veins, and he can boast o.
long line of Abyssinian descent. Tt
him, from his stronghold in the hills
the Italians with their 1900 years o.
race unity, are young and insignifi
cant people. His country is a country
of kings. 1t Is the land of the Queen o.
Sheba, region almost as historic as the
Egypt of the Ptolemies, and any at
temDt at aggression causes the blood Il