The struggle in Abyssinia, which concentrates all thoughts in Italy,
but almost escapes attention in the rest of Europe, is drawing to a head. A final effort after agreement h s failed, the Emperor Menelek refusing peremptorily to submit to any Protectorate. It is believed, therefore, that there must be a great battle, the result of which is by no means certain. General Baratimi has more than thirty-five thousanc men, with an excellent artillery ; but Menelek has twice that number, all armed with fairly good rifles, and as brave as the Soudanese, who "broke a British square." The result should depend upon the strategic skill of the two Generals; and although General Baratieri has the full confidence of the Italian Army, he has hitherto been rather outmanoauvred. We see reason to suspect that he is troubled about commissariat, being dependent to a great extent on imported food. The Abyssinians eat everything for miles round them, and the Italian General must have a great swarm of camp-followers to feed. It will be recollected that Makaleh was lost while still tenable, for want of food and water. Outside Egypt we have never moved armies in Africa on that scale.
