The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-10

xxx II AO1i>"AO1> ~ o''
MW s.-(SpeciaL) -"When the daily
press of America published the
brief announcement recently that
great battle had been fought in Aoys-
sinia rs miles outside the capital, re-
sulting in a complete victory for the new
government, the average reader" says
a war geography bulletin issued by the
National Geographic society. did not
realize that this battle affected S,0oo,VO
people living in country larger tnan
the combined areas of France, Holland,
Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland and
Wales.
And inasmuch as the dispatches failed
to give the name OF the capital, few
Americans could recall it-Adis Ababa,
the city founded by that remarkable
black monarch, Menelik II, in 1892, the
third year OF his eventful reign which
extended over period Of a quarter OF
a century.
"Abyssinia is WIDELY inland nation,
being cut off from the Red sea and the
Gulf Of Alden by French and Italian pos
sessions varying In width from 10 to 2eO
miles. To the north is the Italian posses
sion of Eritrea, to the east British.
French and Italian Somaliland terrific
ries, to the south British East Africa,
and to the west the Anglo-Egyptian Su-
dan. The whole empire, which was for
merly known as Ethiopia, lies within
the tropics, although most of the interior
has such high elevation that the eli
mate is temperate and healthful.
Adds Ababa has an elevation of more
than a mile and a quarter above sea
latitude as the Isthmian seaport Of
Panama, it enjoys q most salubrious
climate.
Except for its royal residence and
grounds, which occupy hill command
ing view of the country in all direc-
lions, the city resembles temporary
military camp more closely than the capri
tai of vast kingdom, for white tents
and mean huts over the country in
circle whose diameter Is about three
miles. No railroad connects this city Of
10000 inhabitants with the outside world,
while the highways" of the country are
scarcely more than narrow trails travelled
by pack mules and donkeys. Even Har-
rar population estimated at $4,000, the
only other settlement in the kingdom hav-
ing more than 5000 inhabitants, has not
yet been reached by the railway which
is being constructed from Jibuti, the
French Somaliland seaport on the Gulf
of Alden. Harrar is go miles inland from
Jibuti, and Ads Ababa is 200 miles, still
further west
"Of the four general groups of peoples
inhabiting Abyssinia the two most impor-
tant are the Calais, a pastoral and ag-
ricultural tribe comprising fully half the
population, and the Shoans, the warlike
governing class. The Tigrians are lighter
in color than their fellow countrymen
and retain many evidences Of their Sem
itic origin. The Dankalis are a practi-
cally independent people Of the Moham-
medan faith, whereas the other groups
have been Christian since the fourth
century, being allied with the Alexan-
drian church.
Education has made slow progress in
Abyssinia In fact, it is said that the
only native school in the entire country
Is located in the capital, and is attended
most irregularly. the enrolment being not
more than 100 pupils.
when Menelik II died In December.
1918, he was succeeded by his 17-year-old
grandson, Lii Yasu (also spelled Lidj
Eyassu) the monarch whose party the
new government will have displaced If
the reported battle should prove to have
been decisive. This boy ruler faced an
almost impossible task during the last
three years for his willy grandparent
was an exceptional man Of remarkable
energy. A striking picture Of the null
tiplicity of details handled by the old
sovereign is given by q Henry Savage
Lander in his account Of a years Jour-
ney across widest Africa" Mr.. Lam
dor says:
Everything In Ads Ababa is referred
to the Emperor. 1t is quite amazing what
an amount Of mental work Menelik must
go through daily. While attending ia
most important political affairs. matters
| of the most trivial character are brought
to him for assent. This is practically
what happens every minute Of the day at
the palace; Menelilx, with his head band
aged in a white sash "a sort Of silk hand
kerchieD and with cheap French felt
hat far back upon his skull. is ponder
ing with some minister over some po-
litical problem Of great importance; let
US sat1' the projected railway between the