The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-12-21
MORE TROUBLE COMING.
Ccontlnued from first page)

diplomatic agency n Carlo, went 10
deliver magnificent presents TO the
Negus and conciliate him. The kings
Of Ethiopia have always claimed the
suzerainty Of the territories extending
novhwlrd as far as Nub.a, southwark
TO Mombasa and westward TO the
White Nile M=l.llk claims to b. the
owner Of the right bank Of that river
from the fourteenth to the second de-
gree Of lautuie, just opposite Fash
oda.
He reiterated these prstenslors as
early as 1891 In a diplomatic no.e
addressed % an European powers and
the contents Of which were Identical
with the claims he discussed later
with Mr. Randal I2dd The scheme
Of Cecil RHODES of a Cap- 20 Carlo
railroad or uyhar the plan of a
British empire ext ending without any
break from the Mediterranean to Cape
Town would be spoiled Il Men-Lk
finally succeeded in planting the
Abyssinia aag Over a point on the
White Nile
1t is highly improbable that Great
Britain after having chased away the
French from Fashoda and the i'm
passable swamps on the lef, bank II
the Egyptian river would allow Abys-
siniA to deprive her Of the free pas
sage which is assured 20 her Il the
Ethioplans do not occupy the right
bank Of the Nile
This was so evident that before
the Tansvaal difficulties England was
convinced Of the imppssibEty Of
avoiding q conflict with Abyssin'a
and plan Of campaign has been dis
cussei. /, was To b. Of an aggressive
character and looking 20 a conquest 3f
Ethiopian territory Things look DIFF
ferently now. Menelik may be- the
aggreasor. or rather the invader. L
he is troubled ~ his present occuUa-
ton Of what he claims 70 be his own.
Not satisfied with the territorial
rights which Were attributed u him
by old parchments discovered lately
in the library in Lisbon, he has real
ized the effective occupation required
by a clause in the treaty Of Berlin,
Of which he was ones Of the aigners
ana he has sent troops 10 occupy the
countries which he claims as his own
In view Of an approaching conhlc,
with Great Britain, the Negus has
acted like President Kruger and has
made extensive war.ke preparations
For the last two years, according 70
a writer who is AN intimate friend Of
the famous Swiss gentleman, Mr.. Ilg,
the right hand man Of Menedk, the
latter and his great feudal vassals
have imported 100000 guns Of the
French pattern Gras; 100000 cart
ridges also from France ana several
thousand Remington Winchester and
Martini guns, besides 5000 revolvers
and $4,000 blades for lances Mitrall-
leusas and rapid firing cannon have
not been forgotten and the Negus has
secured an ample provision Of them.
The number of Abyssinian soldiers
who could be called upon TO make use
Of these weapons is somewhat difficult
70 estimate correctly, especially on
account Of the feudal character Of the
army which Is composed Of conun-
gents brought by the vassals Of the
Negu,s and is not centeralized in the
lattsr's hands, except on the battle
field Still, Count Antonelh, diplomat
and traveller, estimated at nearly
100000 men the force that Menelik
could put in line some years ago. He
divided this force as follows: Military
escort Of the emperor. 10000 men,