Ethiopia’s King Menelik II leads his well-trained,…

Ethiopia’s King Menelik II leads his well-trained, Western-outfitted army to victory over a large Italian invading army at Adowa in 1896.

The Italians suffer about six thousand killed and fifteen hundred wounded in the battle and subsequent retreat back into Eritrea, with three thousand taken prisoner.

Brigadiers Dabormida and Arimondi are among the dead.

Ethiopian losses have been estimated at around four thousand to five thousand killed and eight thousand wounded.

In their flight to Eritrea, the Italians leave behind all of their artillery and eleven thousand rifles, as well as most of their transport.

The three thousand Italian prisoners, who include Brigadier Albertone, appear to have been treated as well as could be expected under difficult circumstances, though about two hundred die of their wounds in captivity.

However, eight hundred captured Eritrean Ascari soldiers, regarded as traitors by the Ethiopians, have their right hands and left feet amputated.

Further, many Ascari do not survive their punishment.

There does not appear to be any foundation for reports that some Italians were castrated and these may reflect confusion with the atrocious treatment of the Ascari prisoners.