File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎8v] (25/834)

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mercy was shown to the population of Wollo who had been
misguided enough to adhere to Lij Yasu’s cause. The fate of
Lij Yasu himself, who had as usual remained well outside the
danger zone, is still a matter of uncertainty, it being variously
reported that he succeeded in escaping to the Danakil country,
and that he was killed. Magdala and the other strong places of
Wollo are said to be in the possession of the Government troops.
This action may therefore be regarded as decisive so far as the
Northern Provinces are concerned, for even if still alive, it is not
likely that Lij Yasu will remain a source of danger to the
Government, as there is small probability of his securing further
support in Abyssinia proper, though he may yet give considerable
trouble owing to his influence among the Moslem tribes.
We arc informed that the Danakils and Somalis along the
railway were prepared, on their own confession some days
previous to the battle, to rise and cut the line the moment they
received news of the expected victory of Lij Yasu and that Herr
Von Syburg warned his adherents on August 26, the day before
the fight took place, that important events would shortly happen
and that they must be prepared for them, thus affording reason
to believe that Lij Y r asu was, up to the last, in touch both with
the Moslems and the German Legation.
The belief that Lij Yasu is dead rests upon a report of a
certain Fitaurari Mashasha to his chief, Fitaurari Hapta Giorgis,
that he had himself killed him in the fighting round Dessie.
Hapta Giorgis, however, decided to keep the report secret and
every officer from his army returning to Adis Abeba was arrested
and confined to his house. This was done in accordance with
Ras Taffari’s wishes and it is possible that his intention was to
make his enemies in Adis Abeba believe that the Fitaurari was
still fully occupied in the north, he being in fact, at the time, at
Worra Hailu, six days’ march from Adis Abeba.
Ras Taffari was fully informed of the fact that a counter
revolution had been planned for September 27, the first anniversary
of the disposition of Lij Yasu, the object of which was to be his
own arrest. The Empress is implicated in this but merely as the
tool of Dejaz Igazu and his brother Naggadras Hasbi, who are
supported by Ras Demisie, Dejaz Marid and a few other chiefs.
The Mahal Safari, or body-guard of the late Emperor Menelik,
form the nucleus of the force at the disposal of the conspirators.’
Ras laffari sent for 2,000 of his own Harrar troops, nominally
to relieve his own special guard, and delayed sending the latter
back to Harrar, thus retaining a force of 4~,000 men on whom he
could rely.
news extends, he was to give the Mahal Safari a province hi the
Arussi with orders to march at once, and a few days earlier he
ordered Ras Demissie to return to his own district. Demissie
did leave Adis Abeba, but was still within a day’s march of the
town on the date above mentioned.
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