Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-05
GRIEF and ANGER IN ITALY
The Effect Produced by the
News From Ahyssinia.
ESTIMATES OF ITALIAN LOSS
Rumors That Ten Thousand
We're Killed and Wounded.
Intense Excitement In Rome The Garrison
Kept Under Arms and Mounted Patrols
frayersing the Streets-Demons STATIONS
Against the Crispi Ministry aud the
Crown.


Associated prasi Dispatch bv spsilal wlrs.
Rome, March 4.--The Kingdom of
Ituly, to-day, is in q condition of ex-
citement, grief and anger almost
beyond description. Words cannot
adequately portray the situation for
every dispatch received from Massowah
adds to the gravity Of the disaster to
the Italian army at Adowa, Abyssinia.
When the first news of Gen. l3ara-
tieri's defeat reached this city, report
had 1t that only 500 men wero killed;
then, yesterday afternoon, the numbers
ran up to 5000 killed, with 60 pieces
of artillery captured, and this morn
\ ing's dispatches place the number OF
Italians killed at the battle Of Adowa
and in the long, harrassing retreat,
which followed, at 1000, and it is be .
leved that not even these figures tell
| the full extent of tho disaster In these
reports no mention Ia made of the
wounded and there is good reason,
based on stories OF recent Italian de-
feats by the Abyasinians, to believe
that those who fell wounded during
| the retreat of over 80 miles met more
horrible fate than those who we're
killed on the spot.
| IuTDuEuDuL tHt RdTTIHOn
here was kept under arms and mounted
patrols traversod the principal streets.
The masses, however, do not seem to
have retired to rest. The streets were
filled with people until daybreak and
after early morning every public place
was crowded with excited men and
women. A number Of disturbances
which have called for police interfer-
ence have occurred. To-day the indi-
cations are that the people are assum-
ing threatening attitude, not only in
Rome but throughout Italy. Demon
STATIONS against tho Crispi ministry
and even against the Crown are re-
ported from number of towns in the
provinces. in spite of tho fact that the
authorities are straining every nerve
to suppreHa all alarming news. IL is
said that the government was aware on
Tuesday of the full extent of the de-
i feat inflicted upon the Italians, but it
was judged to no dangerous to all il
the startling information reached tn o
public suddenly, and 80 first the report
of the defeat was permitted to leak out !;
then the war Office officials allowed it
to be 'rumored'' that 500 men were
killed. after this came the report"
that 3, 600 soldiers had fallen and now
it is admitted that 5000 Italian
troops were slain, Sin addition to
severe loss among the native troops
serving under the flag of Italy. Under
these circumstances 1t is not astonish-
ing that the widest kind of rumors
arc in circulation and that at some
of the clubs the number of killed and
wounded is placed at 10,0 Exagger-
ated as the figures may turn out to be
they show tho state of the public
mind here.
Rome, March 4. All fetes have been
indefinitely postponed. Masses for
the repose of the souls of the dead were
celebrated this morning in every
Catholic church in this city and crowds
of Weeping women and sorrowing men
were in attendance The receptions
SC, in celebration Of the coronation
anniversary of the Pope have boon dis
ponsed with.
Rome, in word, is to- day city of
mourning and of sullen anger, ready
to break out into fierce, open resent
ment Tho government and the mill
tary authorities are loudly charged with
gross mismanagement of the Abyssin-
i'm campaign and great indignation IL
expressed against the newspapers
which have been goading Gen. Bara
teri into action by haunting him with
his inactivity. Ii is also said nov
that the Italian commander was leo
into trap slSilfully baited by tho re-
port which was allowed to reach hin
that number Of tho important chiefs
of tho Shoans, attended by portion Of
the Shoan army, were attending the
coronation of King Negus, at Axun,
and that, hoping 10 surprise those who
remained behind, Con. Baratieri or
dered Gems. Albertono, Arimondi and
Dabormida to attack the enemy. The
latter, it appears, pretended to retreat
before tho Italian advance until the
troops were well within the passes lead
, ing to Adnwa, tho capital Of Tigre.
Then the scene changed. The Shoans,
armed with improved French military
rifles, it is claimed, and supported by
modern artillery directed by French
, artillerymen, advanced upon tho Ital
ians 10 overwhelming strength, whilC
the apparently deserted passes hoe me
alive with natives, who hurled rocks
! down upon the trapped soldiers, while
others kept up terrible well-directed
! fire upon the troops. Ugly rumors add
! 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 added,
began the most disastrous defeat in the
history of African warfare, the trium'
} phant Shnans pressing on after the dis
organized soldiers, cutting them down
in great numbers in spite of repeated
) formations of squares. The troops, in
J these stands, are said 70 have behaved
with the greatest gallantry, but all the
3 reserve ammunition was captured and
: all the Italian provisions and artillery
j fell into the hands of the enemy. The
result was that Il number of the Ital-
ian attachments had only their hayo
nets with which to defend themselves
! and, il is feared, but small portion
of the Italian force sent against the
Shoans reached Asmara in safety. The
, opposition party and socialists are TAX
ing advantage of the situation. The
latter especially are very bitter against
! the government.
! Later in the day the news from the
provinces became more alarming. II
was stated that at number of places
the police have been unable to cope
with the populace and that troops have
been called upon to restore order. The
soldiers, however, appear to have been
+ as helpless AS the police and in several
places the crowds have been fired upon.
AT Milan the troops, after vainly try.
, ing to dispense Il mob which was max
ing a demonstration against the gov.
eminent, were obliged to fire. One
man was killed and several were
wounded. This increased the excite.
mont and report has il that the troops
were stoned and had TO clear the public
{ square at the point OF the bayonet
| Disnatches receiyed here frum Venice