DEFEAT AT ADOWA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 158, 9 July 1935, Page 7

DEFEAT AT ADOWA

ITALIANS ROUTED. defective generalship. Signor Mussolini’s declaration l?ub. lished yesterday, that at the Battle of Adowa, fought m 1896, the odds were heavily against the Italian l’ enough as far as it goes. Th « defaa ‘ was due to defective generalship, but it is not the first battle in histoij which has been won in the same manner. The numerical supremacy which Allenby gained over the Turks in selected areas during the final 1 alestme campaign is an outstanding modern instance of a similar situation. At Adowa General Baratien, who was about to be superseded by General Baldissera. endeavoured to force a decision which would undo the mischief by by his previously futile tactics. Tie had almost 25,000 troops anti he called a council of war at which he obtain!’ ’ the approval of his divisional comm:'.:: sto a plan of attack. Dw ing the uiiht of February 29, 1896, the army advanced towards Adowa in three “ divisions,” each division being between 4000 and 5000 strong, and with a brigade of 5300 men in reserve. AU t’-e divisions save one were chiefly composed of Italian troops. But there was an error due to the topography of the country, and the divisions were attacked’ separately and overwhelmed by the Abyssinians, who numbered nearly 100,000*and were well armed with rifles and artillery. The battle, or rather series of engagements, ended in a rout, the Italians losing 4600 white troops and 3000 native soldiers in casualties and nearly 3000 prisoner-. Two of the divisional leaders were killed and one captured. The Abyssinians have admitted the loss of 3000 men, but some Italian writers have claimed that their losses were as high as 17,000. General Baratieri attempted to throw the blame for the defeat upon his troops, but subsequent inquiry failed to establish this as true.