MENELEK DEAD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1666, 5 February 1913, Page 5

MENELEK DEAD.

EJIPEROR OF ABYSSINIA. GRANDSON SUCCEEDS. By Teleuraph-Frecs Association-Coiiyrlsh'. London, February 3. The "African 'World" states that Enrperor Menelek, of Abyssinia, is dead. Prince Lij Ynsu, a grandson of Menelek, who has acted in his grandfather's stead since tho latter became iil in i 909, has succeeded to the throne. :.A nEMARKABLE RULER. ■ DEFEATS THE ITALIAN ARMY. The Emperor Menelek, G.C.8., G.C.M:G., Negus Negusti, or "King of Kings" of Ethiopia, was n eon of Hailu Melekot, King of Shoa, Hie southern principality of Abyssinia, and was born m or about the year 1814. Like other. Ethiopian rulers, he claimed descent from Menolek, son of Solomon and lialkis, tho Queen of Sheba; though it need scarcely bo said that his lineago is more than doubtful. His father, about the niiddlo of Inst century, incurred the enmity of the Emperor Theodore/who, in 1855, invaded Shoa wiffi a large army; but tho fighting had haruiy begun when Hailu Melokot died.of fever. His last act had been to nominate Menelek his heir; aud the boy's uucle mado a gallant effort to defend the kingdom for him. The Shoan forces, however/were compelled to surrender,: and Menelek was carried off by the victors to Gondar, to be trained as Theodore's dependant. '■ ; In. 18G5, Inking advantage of the difficulties whith that ruler had brought upon himself by defying the British Government, Menelek tied to the Gala country. .At the. 1 time, of the British expedition to Abyssinia, Menelek,' who had been proclaimed Negus, of Shoa, was actively employed in the organisation of his army, and'from the day when Theodore killed himself by his own hand, just before Lord Napier's entry '.into; Magdala, the . Shoan King made his preparations for seizing tho supreme power. On the withdrawal of the British forces Kassa, Prince, of Tigre, declared his independence, ' and,; after a successful campaign, against' a neighbouring bhief, was m 1872, proclaimed Negus Negusti. of Abyssinia,, under the title of Johannes. Eleven years later' Johannes was killed in a fight v.-ith tho Dervishes, and. tho tide of Menelek's fortu'rles turned. He at once proclaimed himself emperor, and, marching northwards,: was crowned'' at Adowa by Bishoo. Matheos in September, 1889..,. The Italian Count Antonelli .was With him at the .time, and obtained his signature to ■ the agreement knbivh as the Uccialli Treaty: In virtue of this the Italians' occupied Asmara;l end received Ras Makonneu, Menelek's nephew,.as his plenipotentiary in Italy. It was assumed by Italian statesmen,,; and by Signor Crispi in -'particular! that; Menelek tos perfectly Willing: tq ! place himself under tho protectorato of Italy, aiid there was, no doubt, some grpund for this 'assumption. "-. .Eventually, ;in February. 1693, the i Negus denounced tho Uccialli Treaty, or !. the Italian version .of it; and, ,as the Italians, began to pursue a policy of vigorous penetration, a- mpturo became inevitable. ' In 1895 Ras,Mangtsha,tried to expel them from Tigre,"' and, was defeated at Senate. Before 'the end'of:, tho'year, however, the tide turned. Ras Makonnen defeated them nt Amba Alagi on December 5., In the following January the garrison of Makalch bad to capitulate; and on March J, 189G,.General Boraben, 'who, with 30,000 troop's, rashly attacked 100,000 Abyssinians under Menelek. at Adowah, in. difficult country, .was driven ■back with heavv losses, the, Abyssinians -"capturing'all his guns arid taking.a large nuinber of prisoners./'..When peace was signed, in October, the Treaty of Uccialli was abrogated, and Italy recognised Menelek as an independent monarch; . .. ~ :• For some time after this.Menelek was reputed to have strong French leanings, aud in February, 1897.: he certainly concluded a treaty with 'France' on, very favourable terms. A'■ British mission in the following, year, led by Sir Ronnell Rodd, 'was, however, also well , received.' Indeed, in spite of a treaty, with Germany, and the'presence of a Russian mission at the capital, it has been said that British inHuence in Abyssinia, /.owing largely, no doubt,'to the'conquest of tho Sudan, the destruction of tho Dervish power, and tho Fashoda incident/has been of late,years sjnsibly on the increase.: ; ,: Under his influence of late years 'tho Abyssininhs were ir(duced to resume agricultural operations gradually, , and'' to abandon their predatory habits which had been, of conrce, only, fostered by, the long beriod of anarchy and civil war in which Menelek Tiimrclf had borne :so important and formidablo a >part. European tastes, > too, under his auspices, became more general -,in Abyssinia.' Seven ; years ago the telephones and telegraph were " started working :betwcen' Addis Abeba and Harrar.; c Menelek , also ''coined . silver thalers bearing his own portrait, but the ordinary currency of bars of salt and of lengths of calico he. was never able :entirely to displace. ,Somo JC210,000 worth of calico is still imported into Abyssinia annually —principally of American manufacture, and by British traders. Lij Yasti, who. was born in 189G, is the son/of tlio 'Emperor Menelek's daughter Shoargash'and of Ras Milcael. He was proclaimed heir to the throne in 1908/' He was: married in May, 1909, to a' niece of the Empress Tnitu, tho Princess Romana, who was then seven years, old. As the Princess Romana is a granddaughter of •the'late Emperor Johannes, the marriage was expected to strengthen the position of the heir by "•■uniting'.the two houses of the lato and the present Emperors. "