Born in Turin, Saletta joined the army at a very young age, joining the Military Academy of Turin in 1856. He fought in the 1860 campaign in the
Marche, and then in the
Third War of Italian Independence. He was promoted Colonel in 1880. He led the 1,000-men strong expedition that occupied
Massawa on 5 February 1882, without resistance or protest from its
Egyptian garrison; he remained there until November of the same year, when he was replaced by General
Carlo Genè. Promoted to Major General in March 1887, on April of the same year Saletta was reappointed commander in Eritrea, following the
Battle of Dogali, in which an Italian column of 500 soldiers was attacked and destroyed by a larger army led by
Ras Alula. On November, following the arrival of General
Alessandro Asinari di San Marzano with a large expeditionary corps, he returned to Italy. Promoted to Lieutenant General in 1892, in 1896 Saletta was chosen to replace General
Domenico Primerano as Chief of Staff of the Italian Army. Having been appointed a Senator in 1900, he left the position and active service in 1908 (being replaced by General
Alberto Pollio). He died in Rome in 1909. ==References==