The Italians have suffered a considerable defeat in Abyssinia. General
Arimondi had ordered an advance from Makalah in a southern direction, when on Sunday Major Toselli, who was in advance with two thousand five hundred native soldiers, found himself surrounded by an army of twenty thousand men, which, under the command of a General unwed Has Michael, had been despatched by King Menelek to defend Amhara. The Italian officers, though surprised, fought hard, and were bravely supported by the men they bad trained ; but after a combat of six hours they were cut to pieces. Two thousand two hundred men, seventeen white officers, and thirty-seven white sergeants, were killed on the spot, and the remainder were pursued to Makalah, where they were protected by the fortifications. The news was received in Rome without dismay ; the Italian force in Abyssinia, now six thousand strong, is to be raised at once to ten thousand men ; and it is proposed to compel King Menelek to cede Tigre absolutely, and disarm the province of Amhara. The Italians have shown great bravery and determination in their campaigns in East Africa, but they are, we fear, wasting strength both in men and money. The land will not attract colonists, who do much better in Argentina ; and no dependency is valuable to Italy for its position except in the Mediterranean. The Italians, however, cannot bear not to seem as much alive as other progressive nations.
