The Irish standard., 1896-03-07
AbI ITALY TEMPEST
PEOPLE ARE now III. oPEE .,RFVotf
Some Claim That the General and Mn
lister Of War Should -, - =. % B,
" s. Bs SHOT. .ss 80. > ...s: :

HEB Rome, March, 4.--Ehe Kingdom OF ,ldaty
today is in a condition Of excitement,
grief and anger, almost beyond descrip-
ton Words cannot adequately portray
the situation, for every dispatch received
from Massowah adds to the gravity Of
the disaster to the Italian army at Ado
wa, Abysinia. Z, 80
!. When the first news of Gen. Baratieri's
defeat reached this city, report had it
that only 500 men were killed; then yes
Eerday, afternoon the number ran up to
1900 killed and 60 pieces of artillery cap
fured and this mornings dispatches
place the number of Italians killed at
the battle of Adowa and in the long, har-
RAISING retreat which followed, at 5000
and it is!believed that not even these fig
ures tell of the full extent Of the disas-
ter. In these repo1 IS no mention is made
of the wounded and there is good reason
biased, on, stories Of recent Italian de-
feats by the Abyssinians, that those who
fell wounded during the retreat of over
so miles met more horrible fate than
tlOSc WIZ W0lS hllltu .Oli Tic opOL.
Rome, in word, is today city of
, mourning and of sullen anger, ready to
break out into fierce, open resentment.
The government and the military au-
thorities are charged with gross misman-
agement of the Abyssinian campaign and
great indignation is. expressed against
the newspapers which have been goad-
ing Gen. Baratieri into action by taunt-
ing him with inactivity. 1t is also said
now that the Italian commander was
led into trap skilfully Daited by the. re-
port, which was allowed to reach him
that number of chiefs uf the Shoans,
attended by portion Of the Shoan army
, were attending the coronation Of King
Negus, at Axun and that hoping to sur
, prise those who remained behind, Gen.
Baratieri ordered Generals Albertone,
| Arimondi and Dabormida to attack the
. enemy The latter, it appeared, pre-
tended to retreat before the Italian adj
vance until the troops were we'll within
the passes into AdoWa, the capital Of
j. Tigre. Then the scene changed. The
Shoans, armed with the improved French
:, military rifles, it is claimed, and sup
:. ported by modern artillery, directed by
French artillerymer, advanced upon the
Italians in overwhelming strength.
:, became alive with natives who hurled
rocks down upon the trapped soldiers,
others kept UP terrible, wel]-directed
/. fire upon the troops. Ugly rumors add
, that the Italians broke and fled after
!, making a gallant stand and seeing thou
sands. sof their number shot down or
crushed to death. Then, it is added, be-
; gan the most disastrous defeat in the
history of African warfare, the trium-
: plant Sh0ans pressing on after the dis
organized soldiers, cutting them down in
great numbers in spite Of repeated for
9 nations of squares. The troops in these
/ stands are said to have behaved with the
j greatest gatlantry, but all the reserve
ammunition was captured, and all the
Italian provisions and artillery fell into
! The hands Of the enemy. The result was
$ That number of the Italian detachments
; had only their bayonets with which to
!; defend themselves. and it is feared but a
small portion Of the Italian force sent
|. against the Shoans reached Asmara in
I safety. The opposition party and So
rialists are taking advantage of the stu
alton. The latter, especially, are very
bitter against the government.
Later in the day news from the prov
lrce became more alarming. It was stat
have been unable to cope with the popu-
. lace, and that the troops have been called
hpon to restore order. The soldiers, how
!, Ever, appear to have been as helpless
rs the police, and in several places crowds
have been fired upon. At Milan the troops
after vainly trying to dispense mob
which was making a demonstration
against the government, were obliged TO
fire. One man was killed and several
!, were wounded. This increased the excite
ment. and report has it that the troops
were stoned and had to clear the public
kquare at the point of the bayonet
Dispatches received here from Venice
say that the most intense excitement pre-
walls there. and there were number of
r:otous demonstrations during the night
An immense crowd of people assembled
1t the piazza St. Mark, and there speeches
were made against the government, con-
1emning the manner in which the Abys-
sinian campaign had been conducted and
calling upon the military authorities to
try Gen Baratieri by court martial. There
was. another popular demonstration
against the government at Venice this
morning, and the mob was only dispersed
by! the police with the greatest difficulty
and after number of arrests had been
made.
Advices received here from Padua say
That there was a riotous demonstration
today and that the police had to inter-
fere to restore order. A mob marched
3 through the streets hooting the govern
merM and shouting for the downfall of the
Crispi ministry.
AT Verona there was similar demon
stration against the government, and a
number of socialists were arrested for
etoning the police ard utter.ng seditious
cries.
n At Rov:go, and in fact nearly every city
{ Df importance throughout Italy. the troops
are confined to the barracks today. and
every precaution possible is being taken
y to prevent disorder. It is believed, how
ever that nothing short of the downfall
pf Senior Crispi and the dispatch of strong
4 rainforcements to Africa Will satisfy the
public clamor.
Shortly before noon today it was an
y nounced that Gen. Baratier: had been re-
called to Rome, and that en- his. arrival
here his conduct of the present campaign
q and defeat at Adowa would be inquired
4 Into The socialis S declare that the gem
I .eial should be, shot as an example to
4 others, and that the minister of war ought
Il 10 share his fate.
The war Office is receiving dispatches
h from all parts of the country asking for
4 lists of the killed and wounded; but some
4 time must e!apse before this can be fur
q n:shed The news of the death of Gen