The San Francisco call., 1896-03-08
Guns and Men to Replace Those
Taken by King Menelik's
ShoanS.
sTRAGGLERs ARE COMING IN.
Of the Eighteen Thousand Missing
Soldiers, Seven Thousand Are
Heard From.

ROME, ITALY, March 7-Much relief
was experienced to-day through the re-
ceipt of dispatch from General Baldls-
sera, the newly appointed commander of
the Italian forces in Abyssinia, in which
he stated that of the $1,000 men who were
missing after the battle fought at Adowa
last Sunday, 1000 have returned to the
Italian camp, and others are arriving
daily. The information relieves much
anxiety by the families of the soldiers
serving in Africa, who now build hopes on
their relatives having escaped.
AS yet no list of the killed. wounded
and missing has been received and until it
comes to hand there will, of course be
much anxious conjecture throughout the
king gdom.
General Baldissera asked in his dispatch
that the Government send to him with all
possible dispatch additional guns to re-
place those the Italians were compelled to
abandon. He also requested that addi-
tional artillerymen and munitions of war
be sent.
The Government has acted promptly on
the request, and six batteries OF artillery
and six battalions of troops will be dis
patched to Africa as soon as the prepara-
tions for their departure, which are now
actively proceeding, can be completed.
The prompt response of the Govern
ment to General Baldlssera's $ request is
taken as an indication that Italy intends
| to take measures to remove the stain
upon her prestige, and this despite the
| popular demand that the troops be re-
called from Abyssinia.
General Baldissera has been authorized
| fo to A6iOrat nd
centrate his forces at Asmara if in his
! judgment circumstances warrant such q
| course.
| The Government has also received ad-
| vices from General Baldissera stating that
he had sent Major Salsa to ask King Mem
elk for permission to bury the bodies of
the Italian soldiers who were killed in the
battle at Adowa on Sunday. Major Salsa
was also instructed to ascertain, if possi-
BILE, the names of the prisoners taken by
the Ayssinians in the engagement.
The statement made in these dispatches
| Tuesday night to the effect that Signor
| Crispi does not hold himself responsible
! for the Abyssinian policy of the Govern
| ment is borne out by the fact stated to-day
that he will present to the Chamber of
| Deputies documents proving that if the
| Ministers had accepted the proposals made
| by him the disaster to the Italian forces
would not have occurred. 1t is well
known in official circles that Signor Crispi
did not approve of policy of aggression,
| but he was overruled by his colleagues
and in this case followed their lead.
| 1t is argued by his opponents that he, as
Prime Minister, should have insisted upon
| the Ministers following him, and in the
event Of their refusal to do so should have
retired from Office. 1t is charged that he
was so enamored of the power he welded
as Prime Minister and the social position
accom- panying his Office that he preferred
| to give half-hearted approval to policy
| he was really opposed to- and that, there
| fore, he is equally, if not more, to blame
| than the other members of the Cabinet.
The popular excitement is rapidly cool
| ing, and the manifestations against the
Government decreasing. The people are
beginning to ask what the outcome of it
all will be, and fear that further burdens
in the shape of taxation will be placed
upon them. 1t can truthfully be said that
the people are not in favor of the attempt
to expand Italy's colonial possessions, par
ticularly when they stop to con-
slider the cost. To regain the territory
from which they have been driven by the
Abyssinians would cost enormous treas
ure, to say nothing of the lives, and the
country, as is well known, is in no condi-
tion to incur further expenses.
Hopes are entertained in some quarters