The Campaign of Adowa and the Rise of Menelik

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ...and eaten little for seven days, began to die, and those that remained alive tottered about the fort at night, hanging round the reservoirs in search of water. This incident belongs to the class of horrors which, however disagreeable, should be carefully chronicled in every historical account, so that a fair picture may be presented of what war really means. Had this always been done, there would perhaps not be so many people in the world who, knowing battles only by their trophies, talk and think lightly of a struggle between civilized nations. On this day while the officers were at mess, a shell came through the door and burst over their heads, fortunately, however, only wounding one of them, and that slightly. It was due probably to Abdallah, the servant of Lieutenant Scala, who had come with a message on the previous day, and, being regarded as a faithful follower, had been received in the mess-room; through him, doubtless, the situation of the officers' mess reached the Shoans, for several shots were deliberately aimed at it. On that afternoon the sky was overcast, and great hopes were raised of getting water from the clouds; but no rain came. Nevertheless, the spirits of all in the fort remained good: "We will resist while we can," said Galliano, "and then go out to drink. What will happen God only knows!" On the 15th, a Mohammedan Jus-bashi (Lieutenant) came to Major Galliano and said that Mohammed had appeared to him in a dream, telling him that water was to be found in the centre of the fort: "Let those dig who want to," replied Galliano, "and try for it." So, weary and underfed as they were, the Mohammedans divided themselves into squads, and dug feverishly for two days and two nights calling on Allah and hi...