ABYSSINIA. 



ness, or to allay the suspicions, which were 

 fomented by Frenchmen and Greeks in Abys- 

 sinia, and by the Arab sheiks whose territory 

 lies between Abyssinia and the sea. 



Attack on Italian Troops. The post of Saati 

 was occupied by bashi-bazouks when the 

 Italians took possession of Massowah. The 

 Abyssinians complained of the occupation, but 

 at length connived at it, because the bashi- 

 bazouks gave protection to their caravans. 

 In January, 1887, Gen. Gene, the commander 

 of the Italian forces in Africa, made arrange- 

 ments to forward European troops to Saati. 

 Kas Aloula collected an army without the 

 knowledge of the Italians, and marched upon 

 Keren. Gen. Gene, in his dispatches giving 

 intelligence of the hostile movement, said that 

 he had means more than sufficient to repel any 

 force that the Abyssinians could send against 

 him. In a later dispatch he asked for a re-en- 

 forcement of 600 men, in order, if necessary, 

 to make a military demonstration. The Kas 

 sent a messenger to warn the Italian com- 

 mander to evacuate the advanced forts, and to 

 limit the occupation to Massowah, threatening 

 to throw into chains Count Salimbeni, the 

 leader of a scientific expedition to Abyssinia, 

 if this were not done. On January 19 the Abys- 

 siniaus attacked the Italian outposts at Mon- 

 kullo. In a combat lasting four hours, more 

 than halt' of their force, which numbered 300, 

 were slain. Of the Italians five were killed, 

 and three made prisoners. One of the prisoners 

 was sent back with a letter saying, that if the 

 Italians wished peace they must remain in 

 Massowah. The commandant replied that 

 peace was not desired on such conditions. 



A day or two afterward a force of 1,500 men 

 of all arms was sent out from Monkullo to 

 succor Saati, and prevent that post from falling 

 into the hands of the Abyssinians. Near 

 Dogali the column, which was commanded by 

 Col. Decristoforis, was attacked on January 24 

 by Kas Aloula's entire force. The Italians could 

 not work their machine-guns, and sent back to 

 Monkullo for more men and mitrailleuses. 

 One of the two companies forming the garrison 

 was dispatched under the command of Capt. 

 Tanturi, but, before the re-enforcements came 

 up, Col. Decristoforis's three companies were 

 utterly routed. The bashi-bazouks fled in 

 the beginning of the engagement. The Italian 

 soldiers formed into a hollow square, and de- 

 fended themselves as long as their ammunition 

 lasted. The Abyssinians, who were said to 

 number 20,000 men, had many Remington and 

 Martini rifles. After the rout of the Italians, 

 they withdrew to the hills. The Italian losses 

 on the 25th and 26th were 23 officers and 

 407 men killed, and one officer and 81 soldiers 

 wounded. Ras Aloula is said to have made 

 the attack without the sanction of the Negus. 

 A letter was dispatched, on January 26, by 

 King Johannia, who said : u In the first place 

 you took Wuaa, and now you have come to 

 Saati to erect a fortress. What object have 



you? Is not this country mine? Evacuate 

 my country if you have come by orders. Why 

 erect fortresses ? You bring what is abundant 

 with you cannon, muskets, and soldiers." Ras 

 Aloula, after the battle, returned with his troops 

 to Asmara, whence he sent one of his prison- 

 ers, Maj. Piano, with a letter, saying: "What 

 has happened was caused by your tricks. Let 

 us now be friends, as in the past. Remain in 

 your own country. All the region between 

 Massowah and here belongs to the Negus." 



The Conquest of Harrar. Simultaneously with 

 Ras Aloula's movement, King Menelek, of 

 Shoa, led his army against Harrar, which had 

 been restored to the hereditary ruler by the 

 English, and was an object of Italian aspira- 

 tions. The Emir's troops were met near the 

 frontier and put to flight. When Menelek en- 

 camped before the city, the inhabitants sent an 

 Italian merchant with an offer of surrender, 

 and prayers for clemency. The Abyssinians 

 thereupon entered the town and took pos- 

 session without pillage or bloodshed. King 

 Menelek remained in Ilarrar several weeks, 

 and when he departed left a garrison of 4,000 

 men. The Negus and his son, with large 

 bodies of soldiers, attempted the conquest of 

 other parts of the Soudan. 



The Dispatch of Re-enforcement?. In response 

 to Gen. Gene's first request for re-enforce- 

 ments, 800 men were sent from Italy, with 

 120 Gatling guns. They landed at Massowah 

 on February 15. The Italians had raised a 

 force of 1,000 bashi-bazouks, and had distrib- 

 uted arms among the inhabitants. With the 

 new troops from Italy the strength of the gar- 

 rison was about 2,500 Europeans and 1,500 

 natives. The news of the reverse at Dogali 

 was communicated to the Italian Chamber on 

 February 1, and a credit of 5,000,000 lire was 

 voted for the dispatch of fresh troops. The 

 second detachment of 2,000 soldiers reached 

 Massowah on February 22. The credit was 

 granted only on the understanding that there 

 should be no extension of operations beyond 

 the occupied posts. On March 12 another 

 detachment, numbering 066 officers and men, 

 was sent out. 



Negotiations with Ras Aloula. Maj. Piano re- 

 turned to the Abyssinian camp to treat espe- 

 cially for the release of Salimbeni and his party. 

 Count Salimbeni himself was allowed to go to 

 Massowah to arrange for the payment of a ran- 

 som. Ras Aloula sent word, in the latter part 

 of February, that he would not attack the Ital- 

 ians provided they remained at Massowah, 

 Monkullo, and Arkiko. In March, Gen. Gene 

 agreed to the conditions demanded for the re- 

 lease of the Italian prisoners, which were the 

 delivery of 1,000 rifles that had been seized as 

 contraband by the customs authorities, and the 

 surrender of five Arabs belonging to a tribe 

 friendly to the Italians. The Arabs were exe- 

 cuted by the Ras, and the tribesmen were in- 

 censed against the Italians. All the members 

 of the scientific party were released, with the 



