Evening star., 1901-11-09
ENGLAND AND ABYSSINlA
BRITISH INFLUENCE IN THE REALM
OF KING MENELIK.
The Expedition against the Mad
Mullah - Deaths of Soldiers
From Disease.

Reuters representative has had an inter
view with Major Hanbury Tracy and Capt
r. P. Cobbold, the two British officers who
were dispatched early this year on a mis-
sion to Abyssinia to accompany Meneiik's
army in the combined Anglo-Abyssinian ex.
pedition against the Mad Mullah, and who
were decorated with the Order of the Stai
of Ethiopia by the emperor. They have
just arrived in London. Speaking of the
Abyssinian army, Capt. Cobbold said:
The army has no system of intelligence,
and possesses no maps. and one of oui
principal objects was to supply this def
cheney. The force We accompanied num-
bered some 1900 men. many of whom
fought against the Italians in the late war,
and constituted the flower of Menelik's
army. We succeeded in driving the Mui-
lahs following in the direction of the Brit
ish force, and when he himself escaped,
after receiving several severe defeats. into
the Midjertam country, our supplies hay-
ing become exhausted, the Abyssinian force
withdrew. When We reached the Tugfaftn
river the army was practically starving,
and was compelled to kill its transport ami
mails, SO a return to Harar was decided
upon. The heat during the march was ex-
cessive. and the starving soldiers saturat-
ed with malaria and dySentery, died Oh
like rats. In our personal caravan We lost
all our ponies and half our baggage ami
mails.
The Abyssinian Troops.
81 cannot but speak highly of the Abys-
sinian troops / never met with soldiers
who can do SO much work with little
nourishment. Discipline is maintained al
most entirely by the personal attachment
of the men to their leaders. The arma-
ment of the troops, which is very varied,
consists principally of Gras rifles with
considerable number of Italian magazine
rifles captured at Adowah. Martins and
Metfords are carried by the chiefs and tbs
officers of high rank. The craftsmanship
of the army leaves much to be desired, and
the Gras rifles in particular are only ac
curate up to a very short range. OF dril
there is none, and parade movements are
unknown, but the soldiers are extremely
Intelligent, and have no fear of death, ana
if they could be made to submit to the ele'
ments of European discipline they would
constitute the finest body of light infantry
especially for native warfare-that could
be desired. Theoretically every man is
mounted, but when the poorer soldiers loss
their mules or horses they find their pay
inadequate to replace them. Horses are
only used in the presence of the enemy, ana
while on the march they are led, while the
mules are ridden. The force We accom-
panied had no field guns. Those in the pos
session of the Abyssinian army are kept at
Ads Obaha, and consist of the seven bat
teries and mitrailleuses captured from the
Italians
1.-The practice of mutilating the slain in
battle still exists, especially among the
Gala soldiery, to whom 1t is mainly con-
fined. soldier who can produce proofs OF
eleven victims is entitled to wear a silver
band round his sword"
Gold Fields Reached From the Nile.
Asked regarding the mineral wealth of
the country, Captain Cobbold said:
1T is impossible to speak with certainty
of the future or of what may be done when
the country is thoroughly exploited. At
present it is known that the province of
Berri Shengul, which is coterminous with
the Egyptian Soudan is highly auriferous.
Menelik obtains much of his wealth from
this source. Prospecting is already going
on in this area, and various concessions
have been obtained from the emperor, of
which British companies seem to have a
fair share. This country be readily de-
veloped from the side of the Soudan, as the
Blue Nile Is nayigable to within a short
distance of the gold field, and gold, which
now has to be carried on muleback 800
miles to Ads Ababa, and further 500
miles to the Red sea coast, will be able to
find its way in steamers down the Nile in
a few days. 1t is to the development OF
commerce with the western provinces OF
Abyssinia that Great Britain should turn
her attention, owing to the facilities afford
ed by the fine waters of the Sobat and Blue
Nile. 1t is not only for its mineral wealth
that 1 advocate the extension of commerce
miles of country in Lekka and Kaffa are
covered with the finest coffee, within easy
reach of the Sobat-"
French Competition.
In conclusion Captain Cobbod said:
AT present French influence in Abyssinia
Is extremely active, and the completion of
the Jibutil railway to point some distance
north Of Harar, to which place a branch
line will be laid. will be effected early next
year. The rail head is now within two
days journey of Harar This line will
tirely alter the economic conditions Of the
country, and it is difficult to forecast the
outer world will have upon the Abyssinians
diced against foreigners. and have no am
bition to change their methods of life. The
completion of the railway will mean that
the whole trade of Harar Zone Of the rich
est provinces of Abyssinia) the greater
portion of which formerly passed through
the British ports of berbera and Zeila, will
be diverted to the French port of Jibutil,
and unless the British government is sat
isfied with the threatened extinction of its
ports on the Somali coast it must serious
ly consider the advisability of competing
with British line from Zeila of Berbera.
Politically it is with England that Abys-
sinia is chiefly concerned. owing to the fact
that except for Erythrea and the small
French colony Of Jibutil, Meneliks domin-