ABYSSINIA. 



Baratieri remained on the defensive, awaiting the 



arrival <>!' re-enforcements from Italy and ex] 

 ing that meanwhile tin- Abyssinian li">t would have 



ire from want of food. Instead of that, the 



Abyssinian troops preserved their front and became 



and mor e. They laid siege to 



.Makalle. After practically reducing this po>t. the 



_arrison to evacuate with 



the'ir arm.- and The soldiers of the Negus 



imply supplied with food because Menelek had 

 for three year- hoarded, in preparation for the con- 

 flict with the Italians, the percentage of the grain 

 rruwn that is paid in taxes to the Negus. The 

 Italians retreated early in January fro in Adua. the 

 capital of Tiure, to Adigrat. lias Makonen, in be- 

 half of tl: il'ered peace on condition that 

 the Italians should withdraw altogether from Tigre, 

 evacuating Asmara and keeping within the frontier 

 of Kritrea defined in their treaty with Menelek. 

 For some weeks the Italian garrison under Major 

 Galliano, consisting of 200 Europeans and 1.000 

 native allies, held out bravely against sixty times 

 their number, making numerous sortit/s and inflict- 

 ing loss on the enemy. When no longer able to 

 obtain water for his men. the commandant accepted 

 _enerous terms oll'ered by Ila- Makonen. who, 



::ark of h< he bravery of the defense 



and an earnest of his desire for peace, furnished 



mules for the transport of the wounded and bair- 



,-ted them with 10.000 men to 



't them from the vengeance of the Amhara. 

 who. in fact, attacked them and were fired upon by 

 the troops of Makonen. Some officers and soldiers 

 of Major Galliano's command were kept as hostages 

 by King Menelek. When Ras Makonen opened nc- 



'ions for peace Gen. Baratieri sent Major Salsa 

 to the Shoan camp in accordance with the Negus 

 Menelek's proposal. Major Salsa was received with 

 all honors by Menelek, who made it a condition of 

 peace that the Italians should retire from the terri- 

 tories lately occupied by them and consent to a 

 radical modification of the treaty of Ucciali. Gen. 

 B/iratieri replied to the Negus that the Italian Gov- 

 ernment could not accept such proposals nor admit 

 them as a basis for discussion. 



The Italians in retreating had devastated the 

 country and burned the grass to deprive the horses 

 and camels of the Shoan army of fodder. Never- 

 theless the Abyssinians encamped permanently in 

 the vicinity of Adua. occupied the pa--es of the 

 road to Adigrat, and advanced up to the Italian 

 lines at Adigrat and Maimarat. In the country 

 still held by the Italians Ras Sebat and Ifa- 

 tafari deserted with a part of their followers and 

 attacked the Italian outposts. Major Valli captured 

 from these new enemies Alequa and the pass of 

 Seeta, south of Adigrat. after a fierce conflict, in 

 which 97 Italians were killed. 30 wounded, and 40 

 taken prisoners. The revolt of the black troops dis- 

 arranged the first lines of the Italian advance./ 

 Has Sebat reappeared north of Adigrat. and in two 

 days the revolt spread over the whole of A game. 



About Feb. 20 the Shoans began to retire to their 

 former position at Adowah. Even the rebel chiefs 



1 to harry the allies of the Italians and formed 

 a junction with Menelek's forces. Menelek. as he 

 fell back, left the pass of Murian Sciavitu. opposite 

 the Italian front line, and the pass of Gascorchi, 

 toward Mareb. strongly occupied. 



\N hile the Italian Government continued to dis- 

 patch troops to Adowah there were not enough 

 transport animals to move the baggage and bai 

 to the front. The equipment of the troops was very 

 incomplete when they left Naples, and when they 

 arrived in Africa they found that necessary sup- 

 plies that were supposed to be there were wanting. 

 Camp utensils and ambulance implements 



lacking, there was no cavalry to pursue the enemy 

 in the event of a victory over the- Ab\ --inians, and 

 even food and ammunition were running short. 

 With the troops that were dispatched in b 

 from Naples, Gen. Baratieri had. in the beginning 

 of March. 44.700 men and 7* guns, besides the gar- 

 rison of Kassala. composed of 2.000 men with a few 

 cannon. This ij,>ld army comprised 30 battalions 

 of line infantry, o of Bersaglieri, 1 of Alpine 1 1 

 and 1 of chasseurs. ! batteries of mountain artillery, 

 2 quick-firing batteries. 1 mortar battery. 6 com- 

 panies of engineers, and 2 baggage trains, with 6 

 battalions of native infantry and 2 African bat- 

 teries. The force concentrated at Adigrat did not 

 exceed 28.000 men of all arms. Food supplies were 

 running short when the Abyssinian army at Adua, 

 at least 100.000 strong, began to move to the north- 

 west, with the evident intention of getting to the 

 north of the Italian position. Gen. Baratieri dared 

 not retreat for fear that the retreating columns 

 would be separately destroyed. He determined, 

 therefore. to risk a pitched battle with the Abyssin- 

 ians before his line of communications was cut off. 

 lie consulted his generals, and they were unanimous- 

 ly also in favor of taking the offensive. Spies had 

 falsely informed him that Menelek and his generals 

 had gone to Axum to hold a coronation ceremony, 

 pport unity, the Italians advanced in 

 '> columns: Gen. Dabormida's on the right, consist- 

 ing of 6 white battalions. 4 batteries, arid a battalion 

 of light militia : Gen. Arimondi's in the center, 

 composed of 5 white battalions. 2 batteries, and a 

 detachment of Askaris. or native troops ; and Gen. 

 tone's on the left, composed of 4 native bat- 

 talions and 4 batteries. All the columns were kept 

 in communication with each other, while Gen. Kl- 

 lena followed with the reserves, composing 4 white 

 battalions, 1 native battalion, and 2 batteries of 

 quick-firing guns. Marching in the moonlight night 

 of Feb. 29. they found the passes of the mountains 

 unguarded, and by break of day the two wini:- 

 cupied the Kebbi Arienne ridge on the right and 

 the Chidane Meret ridge on the left. Fighting be- 

 gan on the left, and Gen. Dabormida's column was 

 pushed forward toward the Muriam Sciavitu road, 

 where it could co-operate with Gen Albertone's 

 brigade, while (Jen. Arimondi's column moved to the 

 right on to the Kebbi Arienne ridge, whence Gen. 

 Baratieri directed operations. Gen. Albertone's 

 column had advanced far beyond the position pre- 

 scribed for it. and when the Turitto battalion, which 

 had descended the ridge toward Adua. was seen to 

 be in danger of annihilation, the entire brigade ad- 

 vanced to extricate it. Gen. Baratieri then ordered 

 Gen. Arimondi to occupy with Bersaglieri a pro- 

 jecting spur of the Chidane Meret ridge and to plant 

 quick-firing batteries there for the purpose of sup- 

 porting Gen. Albertone. The enemy debouched in 

 great masses on the crest to the right and left of 

 Gen. Albertone, who was forced to fall back. The 

 white troops of the brigade failed to resist the im- 

 petuous onslaught of the Abyssinians. and in their 

 disorderly retreat hindered the artillery from tak- 

 ing position. The black troops were braver and 

 fought with more vigor. A momentary impression 

 was crea'ed by the fire of the quick-firing guns, 

 and the Askaris began to advance when the Shoans 

 were arrested by thisdiversion. But soon the fight- 

 ing was hot alongthe whole ridge, and the Abyssin- 

 ians advanced in overwhelming numbers over the 

 crest and fell upon Gen. Albertone's retreating sol- 

 diers, throwing them into confusion. They fell 

 back upon the position occupied by Gen. Arimondi 

 on a precipitous and broken side of the ridge. 

 While Col. Galliano's battalion moved up to re- 

 enforce this position, large bodies of the Abyssin- 

 ians, taking advantage of the broken ground, en- 



