Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-20
May Attack Great Britain
in the Near Future.
SEES GOOD OPPORTUNITY
Aud May Take Advantage Of Trouble
in the TranSvaal-The British
People Are Worried Over Present
Aspect of Affairs.

New York, Dec. 20.-London papers just
received display much anxiety over the
attitude of Menelik, emperor of Abys-
sinia, toward England. At present there
is a dispute between this p%otentate and
Great Britain as to the boundary between
Egypt and Abyssinia and it is feared that
Menelik may consider the present an
excellent time to make a demonstration
against the British. The question of the
frontier settlement was discussed last
year at Adds Adebra where Rennell-
Rodd, first secretary of the British diplo-
matte agency at Cairo, went to deliver
magnificent presents to the Negus and
conciliate him. The kings of Ethiopia
nave always claimed the suzerainty Of
the territories extending northward as
far as Nubia, southwark to Mombasa and
westward to the White Nile. Menelik
claims to be the owner of the right bank
of that river from the fourteenth to the
second degree of latitude. just opposite
Fashoda. He reiterated these pretensions
as early as 1891 in a diplomatic note ad-
dressed to all European powers and the
contents of which were identical with the
claims he discussed later with Mr.. Rem
nell
The scheme of Cecil Rhodes Of a Cape
to Cairo railroad. or rather, the plan of a
British empire extending without any
break from the Mediterranean to Cape
town. would be spoiled if Manelik finally
succeeded in planting the Abyssinian flag
highly improba Bile that Great Britain. af-
ter having chased away the French from
F'ashoda and the impossible swamps on
the left bank of the Egyptian river.
would allow Abyssinia to deprive her of
the free passage which is assured to her
if the Philippians do not occupy the right
bank of the Nile.
This was so evident that before the
Transvaal difficulties England was con-
WINGED of the i~mpossibility of avoiding a.
conflict with Abyssinia and a plan of
campaign had been discussed. 1t was to
be of an aggressive character and looking
to a conquest of Ethiopian territory.
Things look differently now. Menelik
be the aggressor, or, rather the in
vader. if he is troubled in his present oc-
of what he claims to be his own.
Not satisfied with the territorial rights
which We're attributed to him by old
parchments discovered lately in the IL
brary at Lisbon. he has realized the eff
fective occupation required by a clause
in the treaty of Berlin of which he was
one of the signers and he has sent troops
to occupy the countries which he claims
his own.
In view of an approaching conflict with
Great Britain the Negus has acted like
L ltoiuSit hIuS11 anu HIS l1lduG extensive
Warlike preparations. For the last two
years. according to a writer who is the
intimate friend of the famous Swiss gem
tlemen. MI. 1lg, the right hand man of
Menelik, the latter and his great feudal
Nassals have imported 400. 900 guns Of
the French pattern, Gras, 1900. 900 cart
ridges also from France and several
thousand Remington. Winchester and
Martini guns, besides 5000 revolvers and
5000 blades for lances. Mitrailleuses and
rapid firing cannons have not been for
gotten and the Negus has secured an am
pie provision of them.
The number of Abyssinian soldiers who
could be called upon to make use of these
weapons is somewhat difficult to estimate
correctly. especially on account of the
feudal character of the army which is
composed of contingents brought by the
vassals OF the Negus and it is not central
lied in the latter's hands. except on the
battlefield. Still, Count Antonelli, diplo-
mat and traveller, estimated at nearly
200, 900 men the force that Menelik could
put in line some years age. He divided
this force as follows: Military escort OF
the emperor, 10000 men,, forming {. real
elite corps: three army corps. including
garrisons and permanent troops, $4,000
! men; militia or contingents furnished by
the vassal lords, ia. 00O, and finally $4,000
volunteers. or .'partisans,' as they are
called by Count Antonelli. Since the pub
LEGATION of his stimates the Abyssinian
amy has been perfected in it's armament,
if not as to it's numerical strength. The
intelligence department has proved to be
excellent and it is perhaps superior to
| that established by Lord Kitchener. AS to
ance of the .Abyssinian soldiers have been
proved in their campaign against the dis
/ ciplined and well trained and valiant
| troops of Italy.