St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-04
DEFEAT OF GOVERNMENT FORCES
IN AFRICA CREATES DESPAIR,
THEN ANGER.
M0BS PARADE THE STREETS,
CRYING sDOWN WITH CRISPI"-
TROOPS UNDER ARMS IN BAR
RACKS. v
DEFEAT WAS A CRUSHING ONE.
Three Thousand Troops Reported
KiIled-Said That tile Cabinet
VIII Resiga.

ROME, Mafcn Sit is reported here
today that Gen. Baratiert, commander
of the Italian forces In Africa, who has
suffered another severe reverse at the
hands of the Shoans while advancing
on Abbac2rima, was wounded during
the engagement. Fuller details of the
battle have not yet been received here,
but it appears that the defeat of the
Italians was complete. The Italian
army was divided in to three columns,
under Gems. Albertone, Arimondi and
Darbormide, with brigade under Gen.
Elena as a reserve. The Italians cap
tured the passes leading to Adowa
the capital of Tigre, and Gen. Alber-
tones column then advanced on Abb
bacarima. 1t was soon afterwards at
tackled by the enemy and compelled to
retreat. The other columns were un-
able to render him any assistance. as
they were shortly afterwards engaged
In defending themselves against large
numbers of the enemy, and eventually
retired behind Beliesa.
Half the Italian artillery and all the
ammunition and provisions were lost
Other advices report that 5000 of the
Italian soldiers engaged in the battle
were killed, and that among them are
Gems. Albertone and Darbomida The
number of wounded is not yet stated
II is reported that the entire arnov
reserve or the class of 1872 Is to he
promptly mobilized and that tbe eov.
ernment is taking steps to charter q
NUMBER OF extra steamships to send
lelhIorcements to Massowah, where,
according to a dispatch received here
q
today. 0iii'eu
Nothlng but the terrible defeat Of the
Itanans is talked Of in the cafes and
other public places. The Shoans are
SAID to have been we'll armed with
modern rifles and cannon, and the en-
tire force opposed to the Italians is
estlIlated 70 nave been over $4,000 men.
FORCES IN AFRICA.
The probability seems to be that Cen
Baldlssera will have to suspend opera
tlons for some time, while awaiting re-
lnIorcements from Italy, although. in
Guiding the troops okilled, the italian
FORCES at the disposal of Italy in that
part OF Africa number about thirty bat
tal1ons Of infantry five battalions of
the famous Bersag1eri 'rihemen, prob
ably the best Infantry in the italian
army; about thousand Alpine rifle
men, about 1000 ordinary rifiemen, ten
batteries OF artillery, making about 60
pieces, and some 1900 men. two quick
firing batteries, II guns and 400 men:
8 mortars, with 200 men; three com
pan1es of engineers; three baggage
trains, with about 1,500 men, or about
10000 men in all, in addition to the
native troops, numbering about 5000
men, which raised heTentire force to
some $4,000 men. Besides this the Ital-
lans had In their employ about 1000
Arab scouts. ?, ,.
During the evening a rumor spread
through the city that Gen. Baratieri
when he became aware of the full ex-
tent Of the disaster, wrote a letter to
his successor, Gen. Baldissera, and then
committed suicide by shooting himself
through the heart with a revolver. AT
the ministry of war, however, the ru-
NOR was discredited.
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 parading
the streets shouting Down with Cres-
po," but they were promptly dispersed
by the police.
These demonstrations, however, at
tracted still larger crowds of people to
the streets, and for a time serious
trouble was anticipated. All the troops
at the different barracks throughout
the city were placed under arms and
patrols of mounted gendarmes were or
dered to the leading thoroughfares
1t is stated this evening that the min
istry has decided to resign as a result
of the popular clamor arising from the
recent defeat of the Italian forces in
Abyssinia.
1t is impossible to exaggerate the
feya1, ton, ;oI,
Italian defeat in Abyssinia has caused
in all circles in this city. The news
papers do not even seek to minimize
the disaster in the slightest degree.
Every hour marks the appearance of
fresh editions, giving additional details
OF the news, and more particularly of
the manner in which it has been re-
ceived and the opinions of the editorial
writers upon the disaster and the cam
paign. I1 e.
EXCITEMENT GROWING.
All this serves to increase the public ex-
element, which is constantly growing. The
whole OF the garrison of the city is confined
Withln the barracks for fear of disorder. Even
the semi-official newspapers dwell without dis
gu1se upon the serious feature of the situa-
ton. The semi-official journals assert that
Gen. Baratieri's loss was over sixty guns.
They accuse Gen. Baratieri of incapacity, and
want of foresight, and they demand the adop-
tion of measures worthy of the nation The
government has decided to mobilize the re-
serves of the class of 1872 numbering so O00
The opposition party bitterly attack the
government as being responsible for the mill
tary reverses sustained by the Italians Among
the countless rumors which are flying about
in the excited state of the public mind II
was stated that the government would post
pone the meeting of parliament, which had
been fixed for March g. 49,
The Tribuna says: e'Gen, Baratierl played
his last card and lost. y 3e
hn
not fight for honor and for their country, but
only to save the reputation of their COM
mander."
The Capitale demands the recall of Gen.
Baratieri and says that Gen. Brancovina was
shot for much less. 1t announces that orders
have been telegraphed to dispatch twenty
four battalions of infantry and six batteries
to reinforce the Italians.
The latest news reports are to the effect
that Gen. Arimondi who commanded one of
the Italian columns in the disastrous engage
ment, is also missing, and that Gen. Elena,
VINO commanded the reserve, was slightly
wounded.
Small disturbances mainly by students
are reported to have occurred in the prov
inces today. demonstration was also at
tempted in Rome tonight, but was quickly
suppressed. Ns-
King Humbert had a long interview with
the president of the senate tonight. Ac-
cording to the Italie, King Humbert insists
that Premier Crispi shall present himself in
the chamber, and ask for vote by which
the government may be guided in it's future
decisions. The cabinet will meet again to-
morrow, and it is not believed it will re-
sign.
LONDON, March 3.--A dispatch to the Pail
Mall Gazette from Rome says that the great
est excitement prevails there. The troops are
under arms in their barracks and in readi-
ness to occupy the stfeetsai in anticipation of
It is added that TIE government has de-
cided to send further 'reinforcements of 10 GOO
troops to Abyssina itpmedately The CORE
spondent says that THE defeat of Gen. Bara-
tieria must have beenI very severe indeed. as
he retreated fifty mites. ~
LONDON, March "A Rome dispatch to
fha nai Nnuy %lof+ ~