PROBABLE WAR WITH ABYSSINIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 256, 3 September 1867, Page 3

PROBABLE WAR WITH ABYSSINIA.

The " Friend of India," of 6th of June, says: — "The. cold weather is likely to see an Indian army in Abyssinia. Lord Stanley, we rejoice to announce, has sent an ultimatum to King Theodoie demanding the surrender of the prisoners. If his, demand is not complied with in three months from the date of the letter leaving Massowah. the King will have forfeited our friendship, that is, in plain English, there will be war. Accordingly the authorities at Simla, both naval and military, are poring over a largely magnified copy of Keith Johnston's map of Abyssinia. Colonel Merewether reached Massowah, in order we believe to dispatch Lord Stanley's letter, aforcuighi ago, so that before the end of August the Bombay and Puujrtub armies will know whether they are to have the pleasure of a march over a country which does not present greater physical obstacles than the Western Ghauts of India. As it wouid be so desirable that the military and diplomatic authority should be centered in the same person, the probability is that Colonel Merewether will be appointed to the command, unless "Sir Robert Napier should himself lead the force, which, we trust, will be the case. The latest news from the captives is to the 30th of March, when they were still in chains at Madala, and were more eager than ever to take the consequences of being rescued by force. Judging from the antecedents and character of the Negus Theodore, it is probable that he will not release the captives, but rather slaughter them, as well as otLe.' Europeans, before they can be rescued. The chances of peace lie in the fact that the whole country is in a blaze of insurrect:on, and that Theodore has full command of hardly one district".