British Expedition to Abyssinia peaceable inhabitant shall be molested. The sole object for which the British Force has been sent to Abyssinia is the liberation of Her Majesty's subjects. There is no intention to occupy permanently any portion of the Abyssinian Territory, or to interfere with the government of the country." The two most powerful Ethiopian princes in the north, Dajamach Kassai of Tigray and Wagshum Gobeze of Lasta both pledged to cooperate and aid the British Army, thus transforming an apparent invasion of Abyssinia into a conquest of a single mountain fortress defended by only a few thousand warriors in the employ of
SS Abyssinia liners required for a weekly service. "Abyssinia" and her sister, "Algeria" were the first Cunard express steamers built to carry steerage passengers, a concept that was proved profitable four years earlier by the Inman Line. As completed in 1870, "Abyssinia" carried 200 first class passengers and 1050 steerage. She had a service speed of 12.5 knots and was a full knot slower than "Russia". Both "Abyssinia" and "Algeria" were larger than their near sister, "Parthia". Unlike "Abyssinia" and "Algeria" which were built in Glasgow, "Parthia" had been constructed in Dumbarton. Cunard employed "Abyssinia" on the Liverpool, Queenstown, New York service.