THE ITALIAN ABISSINIAN WAR.
1894-1896
The Italian - Abissinian war began in 1894 and ended on October 26th 1896, with the Peace of Addis Abeba, and it was formed by two moments:
the military operations against Ras Mengesha, ras of Tigrai;
the 1895-96 campaign against Ethiopian Empire.
The immediate reasons of the war were the disagreement between the Italian gouvernment and Emperor Menelik II , about the interpretation of Treaty of Ucialli, specially the 17th article; the defection of Ras Mengesh and the followuing seizure of Tigrai by Italian troops.
The distant reason, on the contrary, it is possible to found in the two events caused by Italians with the military expeditions of Col.Saletta and Gen. Di San Marzano and with the Italian seizure of Massawa, that cutt off The Abissynia from the best way out from Ethiopian plateau to the sea. The wawering policy of Italian gouvernment about the colonial problem completed the work.
A) The Saletta Expedition(1885).
In 1885, United Kingdom, after had seized Egypt and the lands of present Sudan, began to be worried about the widening of the revolt in Sudan caused from Mahdi's preaching. Therefore, it asked the Italian help to a common action in Red Sea. Also Italy had interests in the Red Sea, having claimed in the same year the Bay of Assab own possession, therefore it accepted this invitation(1884) and built up a military expedition. On January 14th 1885 an Expeditionary Corps leaved Naples (800 men, under the command of Col. Saletta), at all appearances headed towards Assab, to avenge the massacre of the Gustavo Bianchi's geografic expedition. Admiral Paolo Caimi, commanding Italian ships, came in before Massaw on February 5th 1885 and landed in the town, taking possession of it under the name of King of Italy; the Italian Expeditionary Corps enlarged the seizure to the palces of Menkullu and Otumlo, from where the water for the town came in. In the same month of February 1885 other two Expeditionary Corps came in from Italy, that in March in the town of Massawa there were enough military forces to extend the seizure along the coast of Red Sea and inland. At beginnimg a Company of Infantry has been send to Assab and then the Beilul's Bay had been seized. On April 10th a detachment had been landed at Arŕfali, on the bottom of the Zula's Bay. Then, it was seized Archico, the isles of Auachěl, Medčr, in the Aufila's Bay and the Edd's Bay. On October 7th the Hababs tribe accepted the Italian protectorate and, then, also the Assaortini and Beni Amer tribes followd this example. Geb. C. Genč, arrived in Massaua in last September, officially claimed the Italian sovereign on these lands.
The San Marzano Expedition(1887- 1888).
The seizure of Massawa and of the coast by the Italians had caused the grudge of the Negus of Abissinia, cho hoped to obtain by United Kingdom and by Egypt a way out to sea. Therefore he ordered to seize Cheren and the Bogos' country, that had been clered by Anglo-Egyptians for the Sudan rising. Italians, on the contrary, after having saized Massawa and the coast understood that it was impossible to main only onthe sea coast for the climate and that was important to arrive on the Ethiopian plateau, whose eastern border parallel runs at 70-80 kilometers at west of Red Sea's coast. Italian Gouvernment hoped peacefully to obtain all this and therefore dispatched to Negus a diplomatic mission, led by Ferrari and C. Nerazzini, but Negus repelled a clear and defined agreement.
So, Gen.Genč send a unit of Basci Buzůck at Uaŕ, 40 kilometers on the South of Massawa, at mouth of the Haddŕs' Valley, an access road to the plateau. Negus claimed for this seizure and Eas Alula, the Hamasen's governor moved with his troops at Ghida (40 kilometers at West of Massawa), from where he ordered to Gen. Genč to clear Uaŕ and Zula ( January 10th 1887). Gen.Genč didn't accept his order, but he began some military actions threathening the Ethiopian governor.
On January 25th Ras Alula attacked the Saŕti garrison, led by Maj. G. Boretti, but after 4 hours of fightings he had withdraw. On the next day an Italian column of 500 uomini, under the command of Col. T. De Cristoforis, moved from Monkullu to Saŕti to escort the supplies to the fort; but near the Dogali height was attacked and destroied by Abyssinians. Gen.Genč so ordered to clear the Saŕti, Uaŕ and Arŕfali outposts and the difensive line was limited to Ottumlo, Moncullo and Archico. On other hand, Ras Alula, satisfied of this result, did'nt go beyond and on January 30th withdrew to Ghinda and on 31 came back again in Asmara.
The "Dogali case" made a great fuss in the Italian Parliament and on the newspapers. The Camera dei Deputati voted for an allocation of 5 milions, then augmented to 20 milions; ministers C.F. Di Robilant and C. Ricotti, believed responsible of the conduct of these businnes, had a vote of non confidence and were replaced by F. Crispi and by C. Bertolč Viale. Gen.Genč was called back in Italy and replaced in Africa by Saletta, now brigadier general. During the months of February and March other reinfocements for Expeditionary Corps leaved to Africa (about 2100 men), and materials of all types. Massaua was linked by telegraph with Assab and Pčrim and in the town became works to trasform the town in a colonial capital.
Gen.Saletta arrived to Massawa in the late April, with the order of conduct any operation if not forced by events. At once he acted to reorganize the troops, the outposts, the command chaine. By Royal Act of July 14th 1887 it was formed a "Corpo speciale d'Africa" (Africain Special Cops) formed by : 2 regiments of light Infantry;1 squadron of light cavalry; 4 batteries of artllery (2 fortress artillery, 1 field artillery, 1 mountain artillery and 4 companies of services: in all 5000 men). Moreover, the irregolar troops were augmented to 2000 men; it was secured the concourse of the subjected tribes, as well as of the Debčb and Cafel bands. The fortifications were improved and the building of a decauville railway between Massawa and Saŕti had started. In the months of September and October a new brigade, under the command of Lt. Gen. A. Asinari di San Marzano came in To Africa. It was composed by 8 Infantry Battalions, 2 batteries and 2 sappers companies, that carried the military forces of Expeditionary Coprs in Africa to about 20.000 men and 38 artillery pieces.
Failed negotiations with Negus, the Expeditionary Corps, proceeding in slow stages and being followed by the railway's building, about in the half of March 1888 reoccupy the Saŕti's outposts and strengthened them. Few days after Negus Johannes came down fron pateau with all his army, 80.000 men, and accamped in the Sabergůma Valley, with clear intention to bring Italian forces out its posts. Italian troops remained on the defensive, waiting the Abyssinian attack. However, in vain. The lack of the food of Abyssinians and several epidemics broken out among his troops forced Negus Johannes to withdraw on the plateau on April 3rd.
This stage of campaign was very positive for Italiana: they reconquered Saŕti and Uaŕ, and the Italian influence grew till the plateau's border and , thanks to several agreements with local leaders, also to the tribes that were between Massawa and Kassala and to those scattered along the sea coast.
The Operations against Ras Mengesha. (1894-95).
In the March 1899 Negus Johannes died in battle against Mahdists at Metemma. Italian Gouvernment favoured by held of weapons and money the accession to the throne of Scioa's Ras, Menelik, hoping that new Negus had to favour the Italian penetration in Tigrai. The next year therefore, between Negus Menelik II and the Italian plenipotentiaries has signed Ucciali Treaty. After few time, Itaians took possession of Cheren and Asmara. But the problems started on. The Menelik's election as Negus had offended Ras Mengesha who aspired to throne, being also a son of Negus Johannes IV. Once become Negus the promis of Menelik towards Italians began to not fulfille and the Italian gouvernment began to correct its support to new Negus and to take contact with Ras Mengesha. In the meeting of Marčb in December 6th 1891 there were new agreements between Italians and Ras Mangasciŕ. But this got hungry Negus Menelik, who became too much hostile to Italian positions. It was a difficult case, that demanded other shipment uf men and means. However, the economic crisis that hit Italy in the years 1892-93 forced The Italian auctorities of the new colony to avoid frictions with Menelik. On the contrary, with a diplomatic works it was tried to recreate a good climate of living together the old alley. This policy, however, got hungry Ras Mengesha, who, believing betraied by Italians, submitted to Negus, going to Addis Abeba and, come back in his Tigrai, started to incite the uprising against Italians, stiring up the local leaders of Eritrea, submitted to Italy.
His call persuaded Bahtŕ Agos, who was governor of the Acchelč Guzŕi province for Italy. He had as an adviser Lt. G. B. Sanguinetti, as an agent of Eritrean Gouvernment( name that designed the Italian possessions of Africa in 1891), who had own residenze at Sagančiti. Bahtŕ Agos had been contacted for part of Ras Mengescha by some French lazarist fathers, the missionars who operated in this zone and who disagreeded the Italian penetration, in accord with the French Gouvernments's policy and also for anti-italian tradition, followed to seize of Rome and to the disappearance of the Church State in 1870 by the new Kingdom of Italy, believed bay catholics a freemasson and anti-catholic state. Bahtŕ Agos followed the Ras Mengesha's promises and on December 14th 1894 put in prison Lt. Sanguinetti and claimed the indipendence of Acchelč Guzŕi. The Italian governor of Eritrean colony, Gen. Baratieri, from Cheren immediately ordered to May. Toselli to move against the rebels. On the morning of December 26th May. Toselli gathered three companies in front of Sagančiti and ordered to Bahtŕ Agos to lay down arms ed make free Sanguinetti. The rebel leader tried to temporize and during the night, in silece, evacuated Sagančiti heading to Halai for attackig by surprise the local garrison, leaded by Cpt. Castellazzi with a company of local troops. The attack happened about 1.30 p.m of December l 27th. by 2600 rebels. The fort defended for the best with its 250 men, till when on shoulder of attackers appeared the May. Toselli's detachment. The rebels, attacked before and beside were heavy defeated and thei scattered, when the same Bahtŕ Agos died in fighting. Lt. Sanguinetti was released ant Acchelč Guzŕi pacified.
The immediate repressiono f the uprising disconcerted Ras Mengesha, who hurried to congratulate the Eritrean governor, Gen. Baratieri. Gen. Baratieri, however, being clear the Ras Mengesha's plots, ordered him to consign the Hŕlai's rebels, that had refuged in his land and to move, in accord of agreements, against the Dervishes. But Ras Mengesha repelled the Italian ultimatum and so Ge.Baratieri gathered a troops' Cops of about 3.500 men in Adi Ugri and on December 27th moved to Adowa, where encamped on the Fremona's heights.
Ras Mengesha apparently tried to begin negotiations, but actually, he made agreements with Ras Agňs of Shirai, and he drived threathning toward the Eritrean border, leading 10.000 men, two of third of whom had rifles. The threat to Eritrean borders forced Gen. Baratieri to withdraw from Adwa and to go towards Adi Ugri, from where on January 12th moved with his Expeditionary Corps to Coatit , where the Abyssinian army had encamped. The fightings that followed (Battle of Coatit), on January 12th and 13th forced Ras Mengesha to withdraw towards the Senafč Valley, where the next day was again reached by Baratieri's troops and once for all put to flight. The two battles cost to Ras Mengesh over 2,000 men, while the Baratieri's troops had 123 deads and 192 wounded among Italians). At this point, Gen.Baratieri ordered to Agos Tafarě, a local leader submitted, to occupy Agamč, and assignad to May. Toselli the pacification and the reorder's task of Acchelč Guzŕi and retourned to Massawa.
Ras Mengesha hurried tu write some letters of excuses and peace to Gen. Baratieri (promoted in this occasion Lt. General) and to King of Italy, but actually he wanted for him the whole Agamč. Helped by Tesfŕi Antalň, former governor of this land, gathered again his forces and with them he approached to Hausien, heading to conduct a raid and seize Agamč. Gen. Baratieri, informed of Ras Mangascha's plots, ordered him to release his army and go away from colony's border. Having obtained non reply, about at the half of March he gathered an Expeditionary Corpsr of 4,000 men in Senafč, moved towards Adigrat, taht he occupied on March 25th and then to Adwa, seized on April 12th.
But Italian Gouvernment didn't share this offensive policy of its governor in Eritrea, for the growing economic costs that this enterprise demanded to Italian Kingdom, in a heavy economic crisis, and for fear of international complications in a difficult moment of European realationships. Therefore He ordered to Baratieri to clear out Adwa and to avoid forther offensive actions.
Just in August 1895 Gen. Baratieri obtained the authorization to occupy Tigrai, that had managed in September-October. Ras Mengesha had withdraw in front of Italian forces and left beside a small rearguard that, reached on October 9th 1895 by the troops of Gen. G.E. Arimondi, had been destroied at Debrŕ Allŕ. Macallč and Adwa were stedly seized and Tigrai added to Eritrea.
