File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎117r] (242/834)

ABYSSINIA.
It is reported that Lij Yasu has occupied Batye, south of
Ankober. His force probably numbers from 500 to 1,000 men,
including the Danakil chief Abubuker. At Adis Abeba httle
interest is shown, and up to the first week of February no force
had been sent against him.
Preparations have been made for au expedition to the north
to reinstate lias Wolye, whose Wollo subjects have proclaimed a
republic in Edju and elsewhere (see p. 39). No attempt lias
been made to divert a part of this force against Lij Yasu ; in
fact it is possible that the expedition may never start at all, in
spite of the fact that Dejazmach Balcha and other chiefs have
come expressly from their provinces with their armies.
An Abyssinian officer whose information is trustworthy
states that luj Yasu could have been capture'! with comparative
ease in the early days at Magdala (see Bulletin 45, p. 138), but
the chiefs Bas Demisse, Dejaz Marid and others, who were his
friends, made no attempt to fulfil their duty.
After his defeat at Dessie in August, 1917, Lij Yasu
retreated into the desert, where he was ill and unable to move for
t/wo months, at a, spot not more than five days from Ankober.
The officer referred to urged Ras laffari to send and capture the
Prince, but the former would not act, although he knew that
there can be no peace for the country while Lij Yasu is at large,
and there are many who openly declare that they would welcome
his return to power. t
Officers who were with Lij Yasu until lorced to leave mm by
want of food state that the Prince is determined, on the
resumption of power, to invite the Germans to undertake the
protectorate of Abyssinia with himself as ruler.
If the expedition to the north is cancelled it will be another
instance of the manner in which the interests of the people are
subordinated to those of the Ministers, who refuse to recognise
that the welfare of the country is being sacrificed to their seltish
aims and intrigues. When the idea o£ the expedition was
mooted, parties were found for and against Ras fattaiis
departure in command. Gradually the foimei paity game
streno-th as it was realised that it was an excellent opportunity
to get rid of the Ras ; and it is said that the Empress even
offered him the Negusship of the north in Negus Michael s plice.
Ras Taffari saw through this and ordered all the Ministers to
accompany him on the expedition, whereupon they accomplished
a volte face, and decried the expedition as a waste of time and
m0ne fn Adis Abeba the Ministers and Chiefs are mainly against
Ras Taffari, whom they accuse to the Empress of usurping her
power and of enriching himself at the Government s expense by
Em private commissions. It is true that he takes commission ,
but on the other hand he gives generously ^ * e
may be that he is thus gaining popularity with the lower classes.