File 756/1917 Pt 1 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 1 to 65’ [‎468v] (941/1240)

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ABYSSINIA.
General Situation.
From reports recently received it seems thnt the situation
i„ Abyssinia is probably more involved than any known in the
country for the last two generations, ft had been hoped that
the coronation of Zauditu, as Empress, and of W aldo Gnorgis, as
Xe<>-us of a portion of Mikhail’s late dominions, would have a
quietiim effect. No sooner, however, were the ceremonies over
than news was received that four of Xegui' pioviuces, Simyen,
Wolkait, Wojju and Wogara had risen in revolt and that, driven
to desperation by the brutality of the Shoan army, the Wollo
Moslems had made a fierce attack on Bessie, and, although
defeated, were still raiding the Abyssinian districts. Further,
the Arussi and certain recently Islamized pagan tribes from Ginir
to Dolo, had taken advantage of the withdrawal, during the
revolution, of their Abyssinian garrisons, to rise, while the
outbreak of a revolution in Tigre seems merely a matter of time.
Lij Yasu is still holding out in the fortress of Magdala and
the Moslem populations of Abyssinia confidently expect that he
will shortly return at the head of a large Turkish army. Ras
Taffari, on whom the full responsibility rests, is surrounded by
intrigues of all kinds, both on the part of the Empress, who
shows a disposition to assert herself, and the ministers, who are
mainly concerned with their own authority and interests. The
soldiers and lesser officers are impoverished owing to their long
absence from home, and not only are driving the peasanty to
desperation by looting for their own subsistence, but would not
improbably refuse to undertake a fresh campaign if called upon
to do so. The risings, of which every day brings fresh news, do
not seem directed to any political object, but can be ascribed to
the general relaxation of discipline consequent on the concentra
tion of the various chiefs to Adis Abeba. Ras Demissie and
four Dejazmaches are concentrated round Magdala but make no
serious effort against Lij Yasu, and yet the armies of the
provincial chiefs cannot be sent home as long as he remains
at large. I
I he Negus, Waldo Giorgis, still offended at his original
exclusion from affairs and at the refusal of the government to
put Tigre and Gojam under his rule, openly declares that his
only concern is with the pacification of his own provinces, and
that the Council of Ministers may get out of their difficulties as
best they can.