The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20

Dy the ltdlldIls, fds MdnkheClh lmDloTed tho
assistance Of Menellk, who managed TO carry
all Abyssina with him in the struggle against
Italy. Waiting until the season was more favor.
able the Ncgr,s advanced with an army II more
than a hundred thousand men. against whom
the Governor Of Erythrea could oppose only a
few thousand troops. The meagreness of I,aly's
resources at this juncture was due in a large
measure TO the carelessness Of the Ministry
at home. which lacked adequate information.
and pursued a bold policy Of expansion without
requesting Parliament for the means needed IA
prosecute il,
On Dec. I, 1895. Major Toselli, AT the head ~
only 1000 men. was attacked at Amha- Alad
by a numerous host Of the enemy, and after
long and heroic resistance was killed with
the greater part Of his men, The Ahyss,nians
now advanced and surrounded the fort Of Ma.
kaleh, the small garrison Of which. under Map
Galliano. maintained n gallant defence for nearly
n month. Gen. Baratieri found It impossible
10 relieve them. The besieged. reduced through
lack Of water 10 extremity, had decided To- h'nw
up tho fort and fight their way through ihs
Abyssinian ranks. when Menelik, impressed Nv
their bold resistance. sent word 10 Baratier hat
he would allow the garrison Ia march ont With
the honors of war. so that they might relo,n 'hs
rest Of the Italian troops concentrated At Al.
graf. Under such conditions il was that. N
Jan. 20, 1895. Makaleh capitul1ted
During this time, reenforcements had arrived
from Italy, but the lack Of a proper commlssa.
riat increased the difficulty Of providing for Tho
needs Of the soldiers among arid mountains
far from the coast. Gen. Baratieri cont nued
to act on the defensive. contentinc hImsef
with preserving a vinilant attitude I. face Il
the Abyssinians, who, leaving Adigrat. now took
the direction OF Adowa Eventually. moved
by tho incentives OF the Ministers. who De.
sired to satisfy public opinion by r%eprlsals, and
assuming that an advance would lead Tho
foe either 10 attack the Italians in Their IN,
trenched positions or 10 retreat, Raratai
| on March /. 1906, led his li,No men INTO action
The Abyssinians were encamped in the enyrons
of Adowa. Either through Ignorance u
the ground. or through the impe'uos,'v 4
the first column, the wings Of the Italian army
| divided. and the vanguard. instead " taxing
a position wherein 10 await the assault of tic
enemy. advanced as far as tn" latter'S camp
The Abyssinian troops, far ou'numberinc 'heir
antagonists. easily routed the frst ltal Al
column before the second could appear on Tho
scene. and afterward. in turn, defeated tho
second and third bodies Of troops as they came
ND. Nearly a third of tho Italian army was killed
IN tnlS engagement, Wnll' uuplil'I lNIIu was
taken prisoners. In spite Of his victory. No7e-
lik dared not advance further. and Gen.
Baldissera, who had Just arrived at Massovah,
to supersede Barntieri in the supreme cons
mand. proved able 10 reorganize the forces u
the colony and to minimize the consequence
Of the defeat The news Of the disaster az
Adowa provoked keen indignation among tho
Italian people. who accused the Government
| ~ boripg GailaI thppurh wnnt Of kpNulaIga
in the management Of n difficult undertaking.
On March 5, 1898. the Crispi Ministry fell
without vcnturing to challenge a vote Of tho
Chamber. Its colonial policy had never been
popular in Italy, for the country was not rich
enough TO cope with such undertakings. and
the particular territory TO be annexed was q
no great promise. The unfortunate outcome
of the campaign in East Africa seemed 10 prove
that the nation at large had more good sense
than the Government. which was now discredlted
in public opinion. The new Ministry, directed
by tho Marquis di Rudini. proclaimed It's de-
sire to abandon Crispi's colonial policy, and
set on foot negotiations for peace. as well as for
tho release Of the Italian prisoners In Abyssiu'a
After prolonged negotiations the captives
were liberated and a peace treaty concluded hy
which Italy renowned her claim TO the TigrS
region, and confined herself TO the territory
bounded on the south by the Mareb-Belesa4
Muna line. Later, the fortress Of kassala wad
ceded by the italian Government TO the English.
and it proved useful to the latter in their sub
seduent successful expedition for the recovery
OF the SOudan.
For some time past the state OF internal M.
fairs in Italy had been such ms To Justify much
popular discomfort. Serious abuses had been
discovered in the administration Of some Of ths
principal banks. especially in the Roman Bank.
and evidence Of excessive favoritism shown 70
many politicians had been brought to light.
Thence had arisen prosecutions which had
served TO convince the public Of the corruptiou
existing in certain political quarters. and, ale
though these trials had ended In acquittals, no
disgust widely felt was not allaved. Felics
Cavallott.. the leader Of the extreme Left
had carried on by his speeches in Parliament
and by published writings a persistent cans
paign on this so-called moral question, ard
had attempted 10 bring about the downfall x
Crispi while he wns yet in power. As we have
seen. the Crispi Ministry actually fell owi ne "a
the turn taken by African affairs, but all that
had been said and written on the bank scandals
had created such an unpleasant impressioH
that the extreme parties in the State. 10 WIZ
the Republicans and Socialists on the one hand,
| ana me NleTlChlS on lHe Otner, IOlnl ample
opportunity for pushing their propacanda%
While the Liberals abaadoned themselves N
complete inertia. the Clericals and SocalIsts
displayed a marvellous political activity. -
this crisis. aggravated nv the universal dscon-
tent provoked by the African campaign, ari
the bank scandals came the rise in the price y
bread due to the Hispano- American War "a
some provinces Of southern Italy, wherS
owing to peculiar conditions. the harl-
ships Of the people were undoubtcd. the pro-
vaiing distress caused riots 10 break out, ~
they had broken out some years before in Sl,Iy.
but. on this occasion. owing 10 the political
reasons above mentioned. the movement found
an echo in upper Italy. and especially AZ Milan.
The rising was suppressed. however. IN Nav.
1893. but the nation was grieved 10 witness
the attempt to destroy the work Of italian unity
which. only n few wears before. had beo1
ACHE we'd at the cost Of so many sacrifices
A cheering distraction To these thoughts was
provided by the spectacle offered AZ the Turn
Exhibition The Piedmontese CITY, which n
stead OF giving way TO depression when here!t
Of its position as the capital, had increased n
prosperity by concentrating its powers on tts
development Of trade and industry. nov -
vited Italians 10 celebrate the Jubilee q 10
Statute. or Constitution Of the Kingdom, bv IN
industrial exposition. For six months, that (
10 say, from Nav to October. ls9s, crowds Il
visitors were attracted bv the exhibits which az
tested the remarkable progress achieved -
Italy during the last half century. We shUll1