BATTLE OF ADOWA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 10

BATTLE OF ADOWA

ITALY AND ABYSSINIA. STOBY OB THE DISASTEII. Having “missed her chances” in North Africa, particularly Egypt, Italy first appeared on the Red Sea littoral in 1881, when the Government took over from an Italian company the Bay of Assab, where a colony was established, and four vears later occupied Alassawa, which led to the colony of Eritrea being founded in 1891 (narrates a writer in an exchange). Almost immediately Italy was involved in conflict with the Mahdi, whose power in the Sudan at the time was supreme. The Egyptian army of Hicks Pasha had been, annihilated in 1883, in the same year that of Slatin Pasha had surrendered, and in 1884 Osman Dinga, the Ma.hdi’s Amir in the Red Sea regions, had defeated an Egyptian force at Suakin. General Gordon had then been sent to arrange for the military evacuation of the parts of the Sudan the Egyptians still held. The Alahdist movement swept northward. Khartoum was invested and captured in January, 1885, Gordon was killed and within six months Dongola was evacuated and Kassala capitulated. ITALY AND THE DERVISHES. When he had practically completed the destruction of Egyptian power, the Alahdi died, and he was succeeded by his chief lieutenant, Abdullah, against whom Italy was compelled to take action to defend its foothold on the Red Sea. Incidentally, King John of Abyssinia was engaged against the Dervishes. He had been unable to relieve Kassala, but his forces had inflicted a sharp defeat on Ismail Dunga at Kuiit in 1885. Two years later the Dervishes had sacked (iondar, north ot Lake Tsana, and in 1889 the Abyssinian army defeated the Alahdist forces in a great battle at Gallabat, but King John was fatally wounded by a stray bullet and the Abyssinians decided to retire. Alenelik ascended the throne with Italy’s support and the friendly treaty of Uceialli was promptly concluded. While Italian influence and provisional boundaries were being extended Italian forces tinder General Baratieri were fighting the Dervishes in East Sudan. The battle of Agordat was fought and won in 1892 and Kassala was occupied in 1894. It was Italy’s proud boast that her troops had defeated the Dervishes in line formation, though British troops had always used the square. CLOUDS OF CONFLICT. The clouds of conflict between Italy and Abvssmia began to gather in 18ut>, when Alenelik, apprehensive of the increasing friendliness the Italians and Mangasha and Tigie, powers in the north of the couniry, wrote denouncing the Uecialh Treaty, which differed in the Italian and Amliaric versions, the iormer making Italy the channel of communication with other Powers and the latter leaving it optional. Friendship with Alangasha u ;i s short-lived, however. General Baratieri found that he was intriguing with the Dervishes and had actually crossed the frontier with a large army. In January, 1895, the Italian commander gave battle at Koatit and Senate and had complete victories. Alenelik marched with a large force to assist Alangasha and, meeting the Italian troops, which had been pushed, unsupported, too far south, won suecesses at Arriba Alagi ancl Macalle and forced them to retire. Reinforcements at rived lrom Italy, nnd in February, '896, General Baratieri took the field with 13,000 men against Alenelik, who with an army estimated at 90,000 occupied a_ strong position near Aclowa. Menei' \ held favourable ground m broken country, lie had the advantage oi numbers, but ilis troops were largely armed w’ 111 “junk,” excepting, of course their swords and spears. RUSH TO DISASTER.

Baratieri first tried the waiting game, endeavouring to draw his enemy to ground more suitable for his operations, hut Alenelik merely watched from a, score of vantage points. One history states that the Italian lost patience, being convinced of the power of his superior equipment, to say nothing of morale, which was high, particularly in view of the victories over the wild Dervishes. Air Wickham Steed, however, has recently stated that the reason why General Baratieri launched his “precipitate” attack on Alaroli 1 was that lie had received news that lie was to be superseded by General Baklissera, whom the Government regarded as a more competent and vigorous soldier. The disaster of Adowa was attributed to the fact that one of the four brigades of the attacking force was pusned too far forward; indeed, the rapidity of the Italian advance was remarkable. The leading brigade was met by overwhelming numbers and cut to pieces, the others being similarly dealt with in turn by the encompassing Gallas and Dankalis as they came up in support. The fight ended in a bloody hand-to-hand carnage. Only a fraction of the Italian force, part European and part native, escaped deatli or capture. It is recorded tht the white prisoners were exceedingly well treated. General Baldissera advanced to avenge the defeat, but the Abyssinians, who were desperately short of supplies, had already retired and no further fighting took place. CONSEQUENCES OF ADOWA. Although the Uccialii treaty was annulled as a result of his victory, Alenelik did not exploit it in the matter of territory and consented to the Italian provisional boundary remaining, notwithstanding Italy’s offer to withdraw from part of the high plateau area.

The following year, according to Signor A. Lessons, present Italian Under-Secretary for the Colonies, Kassala was “yielded” to the British. By that time, however, Britain was again in the Sudan and it is doubtful indeed if Italy wanted Kassala. The Adowa disaster was damaging not only to Italian prestige; European prestige suffered, and it is a mattei of historical interest that the Dongola Expedition, which started “Kitchener’s campaign,” was announced 16 days after Adowa. At that moment the Dervishes were menacing Kassala and the Biitisb Foreign Secretary announced that liesides safeguarding Egypt tiie expedition would be a timely diversion that would help Italy. Synchronising with the British action in Egypt there were operations by Belgium- aginst The Dervishes on the Upper Nile. 1 ossibly another repercussion of the Abyssinian victory was the rising before the month was out of the Matabeles in South Africa. Russian sympathy was with the Abyssinians in their war with Italy. To-day it is with Abyssinia perhaps for the same reasons. When Britain proceeded to reconquer the Sudan, Russia and France strongly opposed her diplomatically.