Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-03-12
REIGN OF TERROR IN ITALY.
Crispi Ministry Forced TO Resign by the
Terrible Defeat Ia Abyssinia-

Rome: The ministry announced its
resignation in the chamber of deputies
and Premier Crispi added that it had
been accepted by the king. The an
nouncement was followed by loud
cheers. In spite of the strong force
OF troops and police present it was
with difficulty that order was main
tanned. The chamber of deputies was
crowded and the galleries were packed
with excited spectators. The crowds
about Monte Citorio, upon which the
chamber of deputies stands. every now
and again raised cries of Down with
the government death to Bara-
teri! and other denunciations Crispi
gazed calmly on. as if such demon
stration was quite an ordinary occur
renee and, when he was again able to
make himself heard. he added: The
ministers will remain at their posts
until their successors are appointed. ="
More cheers and shouts of approval
followed this statement. after which
the president of the chamber asked
that the house adjourn until the
crown decided upon the successors of
the ministers.
The excitement throughout Italy,
caused by the defeat of Gen, Baratieri
and the large Italian army. at Adowa,
by the AbysSinians, with the loss from
5000 TO $1,000 men killed and wounded,
according TO generally-credited re-
ports, shows little sign of abatement.
IT is true, however, that the disturb
ance caused by the news of the great
disaster and the consequent display of
Indignation against the government
has been greatly increased by the call
ing out of the army reserves of the
class OF 1872, which calls $4,000 addi-
tlonal men into active service. The
great majority of these reservists are
married men whose families will thus
be deprived of their chief or only sup
port for an indefinite period. Thus, at
Milan and other places serious rioting
has occurred when the reservists were
preparing to obey orders, and in many
cases they have been prevented by
force, women and children leading the
agitation, from leaving their towns.
Railroad cars have been demolished,
rails torn up, and telegraph wires cut,
and the police have been beaten and
stoned into helplessneSs. The soldiery
have been attacked, the bayonets have
been freely used and men and women,
frienzied with rage have thrown them
selves upon the naked steel. Large
mum bers of arrests have been made,
the troops everywhere are either con-
fined TO barracks or occupying the
streets, and night has been turned into
day by torchlight professions, indigna-
ton meetings, riotouS demonstrations
In public squares, and in front of mu
nicipal and government buildings. This
is summary of what has occurred, in
greater or less degree, at Milan,
Florence, Turn. Coma, Lodi, Verona,
Parma, Naples, Venice. Palermo and
almost any other town mentionab BILE.
The agitation has been spread to the
country districts, and from all sides
come accounts of rioting and indig-
nant protest, of bitter denunciation
and loud cries for vengeance upon
those who have been responsible for
the terrible reverse to the Italian arms
The story OF the crushing defeat OF the Italian
army at Adowa has been given To the public
piecemeal The Italian forces FIRST sent against
King Menelek In Abyssinia were imprisoned
and besieged in the city OF Makeleh, which
they had captured. and were forced TO sur
render after being nearly famished for lack of
food and water. Another army OF 10000 Ital-
ian troops and 5000 natives was sent under
Gen. Barateri against the forces OF MeneleK
which numbered about p Tlgres and Shoans
well dflilcu anu WlCkeu upllcIs. zen. para
teri advanced well into the state OF Tigre and
there halted for some time The Italian papers
and people soon began to taunt him with cow
ardice for his delay. so when report reached
him that number OF the important chiefs OF
the Shoans, with portion of the Shoan army,
were attending the coronation King Menelek,
at AXum. hoping 10 surprise those who re-
NAMED at Adowa. Gen. Baratieri ordered
Gems. Albertone, Armondi and Dabormida to
attack the enemy. The latter permitted Al
bertone'S brigade TO get well into the pass to-
AdOWa
then then they swept down with terrible force
and suddenness and the apparently deserted
passes became alive with natives. who hurled
rocks down upon the trapped soldiers, while
others kept up terrible well-dlrected ire
upon the troops. The Italians DrU,e and fled
In the meanwhile Almonds brigade had
been packed on the other ridge OF the pass.
there not being space enough for the troops 10
deploy or assist Gen Albertone. The result
was that Armondis men became panic
stricken ana fell an easy prey 10 the Hara
trlbesmen. who swarmed up the ridge, driving
the Italians before them and cutting them
down or shooting them without mercy What
became OF Gen. Dabormida command IS not
known as his troops have not been heard OF
since the massacre. IL is charged that Gen.
Barteri deserted his men at the beginning OF
the battle and fed over 10 miles 10 the rear
leaving his generals TO their fate The loss 10
the Italian army is 5000 10 10000 men ana all OF
the artillery, stores and ammunition
Gen. BaldiSsera has arrived at MasSowah and
has assumed the govcruorship OF the colony
and the command OF the army Bartjeri has
been recalled To Rome where he will be court
martialed and IL the charges against him are
proven the punishment will be death.