§ MR. LEGH (Lancashire, S.W., Newton)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government are in possession of any information, beyond that which has appeared in the daily papers, respecting recent proceedings of the Italian Government at Massowah, and the reverse lately sustained by the troops in the vicinity of that port?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, E.)We have no other intelligence than what has been stated in the Italian Chamber by Count Robilant—namely, that according to a despatch received from the Com- 653 mandant at Massowah, and dated January 29, a serious conflict had taken place with the Abyssinians, who were driven back after four hours' combat; and that next day a column sent to re-victual Saati was attacked by the Abyssinians and destroyed. Sir Evelyn Baring has telegraphed to say that there are a considerable number of wounded at Massowah; and he has been authorized, with the concurrence of the Lieutenant General Commanding the British Forces in Egypt, to offer assistance in the way of sending medical officers and stores.