PROGRESS OF THE WORLD. 453 



Italian Disasters in Africa. said, some 100,000 followers. Baratieri 

 Italy has been singularly unfortunate hesitated to give battle ; in fact, so 

 in her African ventures. She has an- long did he vacillate that the Italian 

 nexed Tripoli, but not by any means Government sent out General Baldis- 

 conquered it. The Turks have with- sera to supersede him. This goaded 

 drawn, but the Arabs remain as him into attacking the Abyssinians 

 fiercely opposed to the Italian occupa- with the 20,000 men he had under his 

 tion as ever. On May 16th, the garri- command. They were almost all 

 son of 5000 men left in Derna ad- Italian troops, with but few native 

 vanced to meet the Arabs approaching auxiliaries. Divided into three columns 

 to attack the town. It was estimated they fell upon the forces of the Negus 

 that these numbered only 2000. Actu- Menelik, only to be hurled back and 

 ally they were ten times as strong, crushed one after the other. The 

 Weary and without food or water, the Italians lost 6000 men killed and 4000 

 Italian troops, after a long march into captured. After this crushing defeat 

 the desert, lay down to rest. At three Italv ceded two rich provinces to the 

 in the morning they were furiously at- dusky Emperor, who had stamped out 

 tacked by the fanatical foe, and re- all hope of her expansion in East 

 treated in disorder. The Arabs pur- Africa. An indemnity of £400,000 

 sued them to the gates of Derna, slay- was also paid over to him. Is there to 

 ing and capturing, it is said, some be another Adowa in Tripoli? If the 

 2000 men. This reverse will make the Senussi are taking a hand in the mat- 

 task before the Italians a great deal ter it is quite probable, 

 more difficult than it already was. One 



cannot but call to mind the crushing Chinese Difficulties. 



defeat these modern Romans suffered Vuan-Shih-Kai, President of China, 

 at Adowa in 1896. Their troops were has succeeded 111 obtaining the 

 under the command of General Bara- £25,000,000 loan from the five great 

 tieri, who succeeded in greatly extend- Powers against the wishes of the 

 ing Italian influence in Northern Chinese Parliament now assembled in 

 Somaliland. After several slight sue- Pekm. Why the newly-elected consti- 

 ( esses against isolated Dervish tribes, tutional rulers of China should object 

 the General pushed his forces as far to the loan is not at first evident, al- 

 as Kassala, on the Egyptian border, though they might well protest against 

 He was accorded an enthusiastic wel- the President's high-handed action in 

 come on his return to Italy, but had carrying through the negotiations 

 speedily to return to Africa, where without reference to them. A mes- 

 King Menelik of Abyssinia had com- sage from Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great 

 pleted his preparations for asserting reformer, to whom more than to any- 

 his authority as the independent ruler one else the creation of the Republic 

 of Ethiopia. The Italian General took is due, throws light on the question, 

 the offensive against Mangasha, a He points out that careful investiga- 

 powerful ally of the Ethiopian monarch, tion has proved conclusively that the 

 and easily defeated him. This appears Pekin Government was seriously im- 

 to have caused him to underestimate plicated in the murder of the National- 

 Menehk himself, who was by no means ist leader, Sung Chiao-jen. This know- 

 sorry to see his ally and rival defeated, ledge has created great indignation, 

 The Negus now, however, advanced in and the nation is now on the verge or 

 person against the Italians, with, it is the most acute and dangerous crisis 



