Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-04
ITALY GETS A SEVERE REPULsE
Latest Dfent of It's troops In Abys-
nj LIZ MaSt- sfrnus.

Latest Dfent of It's Troops In Abys-
sinin is Most Disastrous.
ROME, March 3.--It is reported here today
that General Barateri, commander of the
| Italian forces in Africa, has suffered another
severe reverse at the hands Of the Shoans
while advancing on Abbacarima, and was
wounded during the engagement.
Full details of the battle have not yet been
received here, but 1t appears that the defeat
Of the Italians was complete. The Italian
army was divided into three columns under
Generals Albertone, Arimondi and Darbor-
mida. with brigade under General ELENA,
as a reserve. The Italians captured the
passes leading to Adowa, the capital Of Tigre,
and General Albertone's column then ad-
vanced on Abbacarima. 1t soon after
wards attacked by the Shoan army and COM
PEELED to retreat. The other columns were
unsbe to render him any assistance as they
we're shortly afterwards engaged in defend
ing themselves against large numbers of tho
enemy and eventually retired behind Beesa.
According to the correspondents in Africa
of the Popolo Romano. half the Italian artil-
lery and all the ammunition and provisions
were lost.
Other reports say that 1900 of the soldiers
engaged in the battle were killed, and among
them were two generals who commanded two
of the columns. The number Of wounded is
not yet stated.
army reserve of the class of 1872 is to be
promptly modified and that the government
is taking steps to charter number of extra
steamships to send reinforcements to Masso-
wah where according to dispatch received
here this evening General Badssera arrived
today.
Nothing but the terrible defeat of the
Italians is talked of in the cafes and other
public places.
The shoans are said to have been well
armed with modern rifles and cannon and the
entire force opposed to the Italians is esti-
mated to have been over 10000 men.
1t is stated this evening that the ministry
has decided to resign as a result OF the
popular clamor arising from the recent defeat
Of the Italian forces in Abyssnia.
The probability seems to be that General
Baldisgera will have to suspend operations
for some time while awaiting relnforcements
from Italy, although, including those killed,
the Italian force at the disposal of Italy in
that part of Africa is now about thirty bat
talions of infantry, five battalions of the
famous Bersaglieri ri1emen, probably the
best infantry In the Italian army; about / 900
Alpine rilemen, 1000 ordinary rifemen, ten
batteries of artillery, making about sixty
pieces and some 1000 men: two quick-firing
batteries, twelve guns and 400 men; six NOR
tars with 200 men, three companies Of engi-
neers, three baggage trains with about 1,500
men, or about 1000 men in all, in addition
to the native troops, numbering about 5000
men, which raises the entire force to some
$4,000 men. Besides this force the Italians
had In their employ about 1000 Arab scouts.
During the evening runner spread through
the city that General Baratieri, when he be-
came aware of the full extent of the disaster,
wrote to his successor, General Baldissera
and then committed suicide by shooting, At
the ministry Of war, however, this was dis |
credited.
AS the evening wore on and the very worst |
news Of the Italian defeat was confirmed the |
feeling of despair which first seized upon |
the inhabitants gave way to one of the |
greatest excitement and rage against the |
government. Bands of young men began |
arading the streets shouting Down with |
Crspi," but they We're promptly dispersed |
by the police
These demonstrations however, attracted
still larger crowds Of people to the streets
md for a time serious frouble was an
icipated All the troops at the different bar
'acks throughout the city were placed under
arms and patrols of mounted gendarmes
we're ordered TO the leading thoroughfares.
Fined for Returning False Assessment
KANSAS CITY, March IA special to
The Star from Warrensburg, Mo-, says:
y the criminal court tbday George II.
formerly associate fudge of John
son county, pleaded guilty 10 giving a false
assessment of his personal property and
vas fined 800, Hndman was indicted by
ne grand jury and at the time resigned
he judgeship.