The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-21
She Realizes Now That They Never
Come Singly.
ATTITUDE OF MENELIK
THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT
WITH ABYSSINIA.
Emperor Said to Regard the Present
as Good Time to Attempt to Sc
cure Possession of Important Ter
ritory That He Claims as His
Own.

the attitude of Menelfk, emperor OF
Abyssinia, toward England. AT pres
ent there is a dispute between this po-
tentate and Great Britain as to the
boundary between Egypt and Abyssin-
ia, 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 settle
ments was discussed last year at Adds
Adeba, where Mr.. Rennel-Rodd, first
secretary of the British diplomatic
agency at Cairo, went to deliver mag
nificent presents to the Negus and con-
ciliate him. The kings of Ethiopia have
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 lati-
tude, just opposite Fashoda- He reiter-
ated these pretensions as early as 1891.
in a diplomatic note addressed to all
European powers, and the contents of
which were Identical with the claims
he discussed later with the Anglo
Egyptian envoy, Mr.. Rennel-Rodd.
Cecil Rhodes Scheme.
The scheme of Cecil Rhodes for a
Cape to Cairo railroad or rather the
plan of British empire extending
without any break from the Mediterra-
mean to Cape Town, would be spoiled
if Menelik finally succeeded in plant
ing the Abyssinian flag over a point on
the White Nile. 1t is highly improb-
able that Great Britain, after having
chased away the French from Fashoda
and the impossible swamps on the left
bank of the Egyptian river, would al
low 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 impossibility of avoiding
a conflict with Abyssinia and plan of
campaign had been discussed. 1t was
to be of an aggressive character, and
looking to a conquest of Ethiopian ter
ritory.
Things look differently now. Meme
lik may be the aggressor Or rather, the
invader, if he is troubled in his pres
ent occupation of what he claims to be
his own
SIN Sends Out Troops.
Not satisfied with the territorial
rights which were attributed to him
by old parchments discovered lately in
the library at Lisbon, he has realized
the effective occupation required by the
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 as his own.
In view of an approaching conflict
with Great Britain, the Negus has act
ed, like President Kruger of the Trans
vaal, and has made extensive warlike
For the last two years,
according to a writer who is the init
mate friend of the famous Swiss gen.
tleman, Mr.. Zig, the right hand man of
Menelik, the latter and his great feu-
dial vassals have imported 100000 guns
of the French pattern, Gras, 4,000,0O
cartridges also from France. and sew
eral thousand Remington, Winchester
and Martini guns, besides 5000 revolt
vers and $4,000 blades for lances. Nit
railleuses and rapid fire cannon have
not been forgotten and the Negus has
secured an ample provision of them.
Has Formidable Force.
The number of Abyssinian soldiers
who could be called upon to make use
Of these weapons is somewhat difficult
to estimate correctly, especially on ac-
count of the feudal character of the
army which is composed of contingents
OTOuSnl Dy the NdSSdlS OF the NeguS,
and it is not centralized in the latter's
hands, except on the battlefield.
Still, Count Antonelli, diplomat and
estimated at nearly 200, 900
men, the force that Menelik could put
n line some years ago. He divided
his force as follows: Military Mai |
SON. or escort of the emperor 1000 SOL !
Tiers. forming a real elite corps; three |
army corps. including garrisons and |
troops, $4,000 men; militia |
,r contingents furnished by the vassal |
ords, 114.000 and finally $4,000 volun- /
GERS or "partisanS" as they are called |
~ Count Antonelli.
Since the publication of his estimates |
he Abyssinian army has been per- |
ected in its armament, if not as to its |
strength. The intelligence i
department. has proved to be excellent: |
t is equal and perhaps superior to that |
reated by Lord Kitchener in the An
service. AS to military
qualities. the bravery and endurance
# the Abyssinian soldiers have been
proved in their campaign against the
disciplined. well trained and valiant
roops of Italy.