The Italians have met with a misfortune in the Red
Sea, which has greatly roused public feeling. They have been holding Massowah, partly as a port from which to trade with Abyssinia, partly as a place of arms from which, if the time arrived, they might conquer a considerable African dependency. The ruler of Abyssinia has recently shown some jealousy of their presence, and his most powerful chief, Rae Alonla, attacked three companies of the garrison who were marching from one post to another, a short distance in the interior. The Italians were cut to pieces, only 50 escaping out of 450, and the blow was followed up by a march on Massowah, which, it is reported, is sanctioned by the King himself. When the news of the disaster was received in Rome, the Italians behaved like Frenchmen, assembling round the doors of the Chamber, hooting the Premier, and behaving so violently that they were at last dispersed by the soldiery. Reinforcements were at once ordered to Massowah ; and opinion in Rome is inclined to believe that King John was instigated by the French, who wish to give Italy something to do; but Massowah is the natural outlet of Abyssinia, and has been demanded from Turks and Egyptians any time this forty years.
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