The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 4, 1896, Page 1

A = 95. THE ABYSSINIANS. Overwhelming Defeat of the | Italian Troops by Menelik. THREE THOUSAND SLAIN Generals Dabormida and Alber- tone Among the Officers Who Perished. BARATIERI'S FATAL BLUNDERS. It Is Reported That the Retiring Commander-in-Chief Committed Suicide After Defeat. ROME, March campaign against the Aby ens to becowmne one of the most in which the ltalia part, and what the d be hard to predict. The Italian nians threat- ITavy, my Las ever tal 11 be al outcome W E that the latest Italisns by the forces of Menelik had compeiled the Mini to the popul owing of the Itali show ses were very heavy. g placed by some at 3000 killed. | | impossible to ascertain the pre- | n army e losses, popular opinion credits | t the number of killed is ed. Thus wmention of report t overst: far the reports the number of unded. the dead are General Albertone, of the left brigade, and Gen- a, commander of the right brigade. The news of this latest disaster has d the greatest excitement through- ltaly, and the opposition party is cau: out taking advantage of it to make violent at- | tacks upon the Government’s policy in attempting to extend the sphere of Italian influence in Abyssit | appointed to succeed General Baratieri in | endure the humiliation of his defeat. General Arimondi, the commander of the center hrigade, was ordered to cover | the retreat of the last brigade, but his posi- tion was such that he was prevented from carrying the order out. In the meantime the Abyssinians, flushed with success, made an energetic attack upon the whole Italian front, and enveloped both wings. The Italians made a desperate resistance, but could not withstand the attack, and finally orders were given for them to fall back. Their positions were speedily aban- doned. The fighting lasted all day. Gen- eral Baratieri, with the wounded General Ellina and his command, together with the men under General Arimondi, retired | to Adecajo, 100 kilometers from Adowa. Since Baratieri returned to yssinia from his visit to Rome, on which S General imperor William, his | of the Red Eagle by | conduct of the campaign has been very | harshly criticized in certain military cir- cles. His decision to break his line in this battle and the tactics subsequently pur- sued by him are regarded by military ex- perts as inexplicable. The Italians are said to have lost sixty guns and all their provisions. Even the Government ac- knowledees that when General Baratieri was compelled to order his army to se- | treat from the positions held by it he was | forced to abandon many of his guns. The nature of the country prevented the guns used against the enemy, and nted the Italians from taking h them in their retreat. These, e, have fallen into the hands of the nians, who will undoubtedly use them against their former owners. The | captured guns will enormously aid the ar- tillery forces of the Abyssinians, already a factor that has had to be taken into ac- count by the Italians. The situation is regarded as being so serious that the Government has called out all the reserves of 1872. Every effort will be made to bLasten the dispatch of re- enforcements to Abyvssinia. Orders have been issued for all the available transport steamers to assemble at Naples on Satur- day next for the purpose of taking on board tzoops for immediate dispatch to them w of co Massowah. General Baldissera, who was recently the chief command of the Italian forces in Abyssinia, has arrived at Massowah. It is reported that General Baratieri's at- | tack upon the Abyssinians Sunday was the result of his desire to make a grand military coup and rehabilitate his reputa- | tion before he was superseded by General | Baldissera. Among the many reports current to-day | was one to the effect that General Baratieri | had committed suicide, being unable to A Z 7, 97 g 4 KING MENELIK | | The scenes in the streets to-day were | very exciting, the populace being greatly | incensed against the Government. De- nunciations of the Ministry could be heard on every hand. The Pope is greatly dis- turbed by the news. He has ordered the suspension of the Te Deum and also the diplomatic banquet that were to be given | in connection with the anniversary of his coronation. A meeting of the Cabinet was sum- | moned last night immediately upon the receipt of the news of the Italian reverse. The Ministers met at midnight and sat in closed session until late this morning dis- cussing the situation. They will meet in the Chamber of Deputies to-morrow and make a statement regarding the position of affairs and their intentions. A persistent rgmor circulates that the Cabinet will retire. King Humbert to- day bad interviews with Prime Minister Crispi and Signor Farini, president of the Senate. The subjects discussed at the in- terview were presumably the Italian de- feat and the course'to be pursued by the Government, but what if any decision Was arrived at is unknown. As stated in the United Press dispatches last night, General Baratieri, Governor of Erythrea, and at present commander of the Itulian forces operating against the Abyssinians, made an attack on the latter on Sunday. The reserve Italian force took possession of the passes leading to Adowa without any opposition from the enemy. This force was commanded by General El- lina. General Albertone, with four bat- talions of native levies and four mounted | sistance and fought until their ammuni- OF ABYSSINIA. This is the sacond crushing defeat th.it the Abyssinians have inflicted upon the Italians since the latter attempted to ex- | tend their power in the dominion of King | Men, About three months ago five | companies of Italian troops under com- | mand of Major Tosselli were surprised and | surrounded by a force of 25,000 Abyssin- | ians. The TItalians made a desperate re- tion was exhausted, when the Abyssin- ians charged upon them and massacred | nearly the whole force. Fourteen Italian' officers and over 700 men were killed. | Only a small number of the Italians suc- | { ceeded 1n breaking through the beleaguer- SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1896 PRICE FIVE CENT |In Attorney-General Harmon’s Opinion Uncle Sam Is Out in the Cold ing line and making their escaps to Makalle. Subsequently the Abyssinians besieged Makalle and after practically reducing it allowed the garrison to evacuate the place with their arms and baggage. Afterward several minor engagements were fought with varying success until Sunday, when the forces of King Menelik inflicted another and warse . defeat upon the combined i forces of the Itallans. — - ALL DETAILS SUPPRESSED. Italian Leaders Expelled Correspondents From the Lines. ROME, Trary, March 3.—The Govern- ment still lacks or is withholding full de- tails of the disastrous battle with the Abyssinians. Orders were given some time ago for the exclusion of newspaper correspondents from the Italian lines, and a strict censorship has since been main- tained over press dispatches which makes 1t difficult for the full story of the Italian defeat to be made known. As a result, the comparative scantiness of news causes the wildest sort of speculations, and all kinds | of undoubtedly exaggerated reports are in circulation. The newspapers here teem with reports, deductions, estimates and comments. All of them, with the exception of the Eser- | cito, a military journal, ascribe the dis- aster to General Baratieri’s supposed rash- ness and bis desire to achieve a victory that would offset his being superseded in iis command. Itisthe opinion here that General Baratieri's forces numbered 15,000 men, opposed to whom were 80,000 Abyssmians. A late dispatch from Massowah states tnat General Arimondi is also missing. LONDON, ExG., March 3.—The Daily to-morrow publish a dispatch from Rome saying that the Cabinet ten- dered their resignations to King Humbert Monday, but that his Majesty refused to accept them. The dispatch adds that General Baratieri will be recalled from Abyssinia and will be tried by a military court-martial. Military experts regard the | retreat of the Italians as worse than their defeat,they having abandoned more than 100 miles of territory., It is uncertain whether they still hold Adigrat. NOW FREE. The Well-Known Politician decures a Di- vorce in Oklahoma. WICHITA, Kaxs., March 3.—Ex-Mayor Frank A. Magowan of Trenton, N.J., is now a full-fledged citizen of Oklahoma, having been granted an absolute divorce from his wife by Judge Scott of Oklahoma Uity to-day. He had no opposition in court, having made a satisfactory settlement with his wife. Mr. Magowan is well known through- out the East as a politician and financier, and would have been the Republican nom- inee for Governor of New Jersey at the last election if his' domestic affairs would have permitted him entering the field, MAGOWAN THE FORTRESS After a desperate resistance, in the course batteries, then engaged the Abyssinians, but was soon overcome by overwhelming odds and was forced to retreat. ¢ permitted them to march out with all the tion, the Italians made overtures for terms. OF MAKALLE. This fortification was considered capable of withstanding almost any force that the Abyssinians could bring against it, but it was besieged by an army of 80,000 men. of which the garrison suffered severe. priva- Somewhat to their surprise, Menelik honors of war. The loss of this stronghold was one of the many severe blows the Italians have met with in this campaign. SPAIN RECENVING OFFERS OF AID. Apparent Dstermination to Keep Cuba as a Dependent Colony. TRANS - ATLANTIC STEAMERS. Vessels Accepted for Use as Cruisers or Privateers in Case of War With Uncle Sam. | 'MADRID, Spary, March 3.—The Gov- | ernment has received a number of offers | of pecuniary and other aid in the eyent of | a war with the United States, growing out | of the attitude of the latter on the Cuban | question. The people appear to be de- | termined to uphold the Governme nt in its | intention to keep Cuba a Spanish colony, no matter at what cost. The Cabinet is greatly encouraged by the attitude of the Continental press, which, generaily speak- ing, expresses much sympathy with Spain in her determination to resent what is termed Yankee aggression. One important factor in the support accorded the Government which is sedulously kept in the background is that Cuban debentures and other securities depending for their value upon the income | derived from Cuba are held to a large | amount by foreign capitalists. With a | free Cuba these securities would be prac- tically worthless, and this accountsin a very great measure for the attitude of many of the foreign newspapers, which speak not so much because that the United States has any ulterior motive in recognizing the Cubans as belligerents as because they are defending the financial interests of capitalists of their country. In Spain, however, the support of the Government is due to pure patriotism. Among the offers of assistance, the Gov- ernment received one from the Spanish Trans-Atlantic Company,which has offered to place its entire fleet of steamships at the disposal of the Governmeat, making no condition whatever. The offer has been accepted, and eight of the steamers will be armed with from nine to twelve centi- metre guns. 1f ‘events shall necessitate such action, these vessels will be used as cruisers and privateers. The Government has ordered that large quantities of coal be stored in Cuba for the use of the warships. Military prepara- tions are being hastily but! systematically made. Orders have been issued for the dispatch to Cuba of re-inforcements from the Balearic, Canary and Philippine islands. At the meeting the Cabinet to be hela to-morrow Admiral Beranger, Minister of Marine, will ask for a credit to complete the armament of the warships Pelaya, Oquendo, Vizcaya and Maria Teresa. The diplomats here had long interviews to-day with Senor Elduayen, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Three hundred students of the univer- sity attempted this morning to make a demonstration. A number of working- men joined them. The rector of the uni- versity took prompt action to restore order and caused ti:e arrest of fifty or more of the most demonstrative of the crowd. They were soon liberatea upon promising to be- have themselves. The police arrested two of the workingmen. The day was otherwise peaceful. Many of the shops of the city on which there were American names have taken the pre- caution to have them effaced, fearing that 1 the present unsetiled state of public temper the names would invite an attack. The Catholic party, which was formerly the Carlist party, but which is now inde- pendent, has adopted a resolution protest- ing against the attitude of the United States and offering to support the Govern- ment with men and money. A report was current here to-day that Captain-General Weyler had resigned his command in Cuba. The report was un- true. . Atthe Stock Exchange the decline in Government securities was continued and ‘Was more pronounced than on any day since the receipt of the news of the action taken by the American Senate. Spanish interior fell 160 centimes, exterior 130 and Cuban debentures 770. Bank of Spain shares show a decline of 100 centimes. There was some recovery in values after the close of the regular market. sl 0y SEmET; BATTLES WITH INSURGENTS. Spanish Troops Claim to Have Won Every Engagement. HAVANA, Cusa, March 3.—General Al- decoa reports that he found 1500 men be- longing to the command of Maceo occupy- ing houses in the town of Nazarono, in the province of Havana, and also in ths hills surrounding the town. His troops opened | fireon the rebels with cannon and rifles and drove the enemy out of the town and occupied the positions formerly held by them. The troops later found the enemy encamped at ‘the Bayamo, a small town east of San Felipe. They were attackeéd and forced to re- treat.. The troops in this engagement also used their cannon. The Spanish loss was one lientenant killed and fogr soldiers wounded. The rebels left one dead on the field and are said to have carried many dead and wounded with them when they retreated. Lieutenant Moreno, in command of a column from General Linares’ forces, met atabout the same time the vanguard or rebels commanded by Castilo at Seibon, near Managua, in the center of the prov- ince of Havana. The vanguard was pursued along the roada from Nazarono to La Chusa, where the main body of the rebels were found. 1n the fight that followed the rebelslost eight killed and many wounded. Another column of troops from the San Fernando regiment from Havana, commanded by Colonel . Figueroa, combined with the Linares column, and had a fight with an- other group of rebels at Las Guasimas, on the highway to Havana. The fighting ceased at nightfall. The rebel loss is un- known. Aid, for the troops who were wounded in this encounter was sent from Jesus del Monte. Colonel Tort encountered the forces of Masso, Maestre and Portugalete on an estate near San Jose.de Las Lajas. The rebels were intending to make a junction with Maceo. They set fire to the cane to cover their retreat. A band of 200 rebels set fire to a few houses at Wajay, a small town west of Havana. Troops have gone in pursuit of them. The troops stationed at Batabanore, ‘| Club (polo players) of this city. pelled an attack made by tbe bands of Nunez, Alvarez, Roderiguez and others on the night of February 20. Although the rebels outnumbered the garrison the lat- ter easily prevented them from entering the town. Milkmen in the province of Havana have been prevented by the rebels from sending supplies to the city. The prices of eggs, fruit and vegetables are also advanc- ing. Regos’ band has burned the town of Mandinga, in the province of Santa Clara. General Bernal reports having had a battle with the rebels under Serafin Sanchez at Mamey, Santa Clara. He says that the insurgents lost thirty killed and forty wounded. The iroops lost thirty killea and twenty wounded. J. FRANK CLARK. L Sy e FIGHTERS MENT IO CUBA. St. Louis a Reeorwiting Kendezvous for Volunteers. ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 3.—For some time a whispered suspicion has been circu- lated here that St. Louis was the common center or recruiting rendezvous for Cuban volunteers. Since the decided action of Congress favoring Cuban independence this suspicion has become a certainty. Since February 20 over 200 volunteers have been enlisted, armed and sent from here by various routes to Cuba. About February 1 two men appeared bere, repre- senting themselves as capitalists from New Orleans buying horses and mules. Both were native Cubans, but spoke English and had plenty of money. To-night the local agent of these men, casting aside the secrecy heretofore maintained, said his patrons were agents of the Cuban republic. | For three weeks the recently abandoned horse market at Broadway and Cass ave- nue has been the rendezvous of the volun- teers. Strangers would enter the place by dozens, exercise the horses bought by the Cubans and disappear. The local agent says the men are enlisted ‘‘for the war.”” They receive military scrip for pay and are fed, clothed and armed. The Simmons Hardware Company adpitted to-day that it recently sold hundreds of small arms and ammunition to-the strangers, besides a ot of repeating rifles. The agent closed to-night’s interview by saying: ““To-day we enlisted four of the Country They furnish their horses and arms and will be given commissions. We now have 150 men, who will be shipped at once. Our men have been shipped in small squads | through Louisiana, Fiorida and points in Mexico. The capse is just and the flimsy barriers of conservative diplomacy will not resist the tide of liberty that is sweeping across the gulf to make Cuba free.” The agent exhibited a letter from El Paso, Tex., stating that 300 volunteers had left there within twenty days. Sl el RELEASE UF THE BERMUDA. The Claim of Right to Detain the Vessel | Abandoned. NEW YORK, N. Y., March 3.—The United States Government has abandoned all claim of right tp detain the alleged | filibustering steamship Bermuda and the PRESBYTERIAN AND PRESIDENT. Grover Cleveland at the Rally of the Board of Home Missions. RECEIVED WITH CHEERS An Interesting Address Made by the Chief Executive of the Nation. INFLUENCE OF TRUE RELIGION Vast Importance of Christian Teaching and Endeavor in New Communities. NEW YORK, N. Y., March 3—The opening gun of a big home mission cam- paign was fired to-night at Carnegie Music Hall by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church. The announcement that President Cleveland wasto preside at the meeting was of itself sufficient to draw an immense audience to the hall. The doors were opened at 7:15 o’clock, but long befure that time the crowd began to gather. Five minutes after the doors were opened every seat in the immense hall was filled. The audience was a very enthusiastic one and the remarks of the various speakers were cheered to the echo. The object of the rally was to stir up public in- terest in the work of home missions and to raise funds for completing the pay- ments on the new building of the society on Fifth avenue. The meeting to-night is the first of a series to be beld all over the United States. It was exactly 5 minutes after 8 o’clock when Mr. Cleveland appeared on the plat- form. He was dressed in a black frock coat and wore a turned-down collar and a biack tie. The moment the President was seen the immense audience rose up and cheered wildly for a few minutes. There was another burst of applause when the Rev. Dr. John Hall introduced President Cleveland as the presiding officer of the meeting in a brief speech. Dr. Hall in in- troducing the President said: “My Christian friends: We have with us here one who has been twice called by the | voice of his fellow-citizens to the highest General Baratieri, Commander-in-Chief of the Defeated Italian Forees im Abys- sinia, Who Is Reported to Have Committed Suicide. [From a photograph.] lighter J. 8. T. Stranaban and their car- goes, excepting in the case of the explo- sives found upon the latter, which, it is alleged were packed in boxes not marked as required by law. To-day United States District Attorney McFarlane instructed Marshal McCarthy to this effect and the latter at once took steps to turn over the vessels and other property to the Cubans. The $4000 in silver taken from the Ber- muda was taken on board that vessel this afternoon and returned to the place from which it had been taken, and charts, in- struments' and other articles were also Continued on Third Page. A GROUP OF ABYSSINIAN GENERALS. official position in this United States, and one who has, I understand, some happy family associations with our Board of Home Missions. I have the pleasure, therefore, by the direction of the Board of Home Missions, and I count it an honor- able duty, to invite the President of the United States to preside over our present meeting.” 5 President Cleveland then came forward. He was received very warmly, but the cheering was by no means boisterous. His remarks on the foreign missionaries’ sufferings were loudly cheered. He spoke as follows: “I desire to express my appreciation of the privilege of participating in this con- ference and of the opportunity thus af- forded me of testifying to the value and usefulness of the work undertaken by the Board of Home Missions of the Presby- terian church. My interest in this sub- ject and my familiarity with home mis- sionary efforts are not newly acquired. They early came o me in the surround- ings of a Christian Presbyterian home and were stimulated by a father’s faithful labors in the cause. ““My early impressions are not, however, the only basis of the testimony I give to- night in favor of home missions. As your fellow-citizen, interested, I hope, in all things that deepen the religlous senti- ment of our people and enlarge Christian influences, I fully realize the transcendant importance of this agency in its operation upon the hearts of men for the salvation of their souls. The long roster of those who have been Jed into the way of right- sousness through the instrumentality of the home missions are rich trophies of successful endeavor. * «Bat it is not only as your fellow-citizen, but as chief executive officer of your Gov- ernment that I desire to speak, for I am