The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. MONDAY, AUGUST 28. 1883.

Auckland Star, Volume XV, Issue 3795, 28 August 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo.

MONDAY, AUGUST 28. 1883.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that.needs.resistance For tho future in tho distancn, And the good that ws can do.

The Egyptian news to-day is important, but rather obscure, The main division of the British army, under Sir Garnet Wolieley, is reported to have executed a number of brilliant movements in the coutse of its advance from Isruailia, capturing Dom, Ng.-vfal, and Kaemscs, after touting a force of over 10,000 Egyptians, These places being of no importance, except as military positions, are not shown on the map?, nor mentioned in gazetteers, ami there was accordingly some difficulty experienced in understanding the significance of the movements. A later teleeram, however, implying that the Egyptians aro concentrating and falling back upon Zakazik, throws light upon tho previous news. Zakazik is a town of 40,000 inhabitants, and as will be seen on reference to the (STAR map of Egypt, occupies an important position at the junction of railways connecting Ismailia, Tantah, Suez, Cairo, Damaohour, Kaf rado war, aud A lexandria. It is probable that the rebels will make a determined stand at this place, for though it does not appear to be either fortified or of natural strength, it is a position of immense Btrategic value, from the command which it gives of the railway communication. Situated equi-distant from Ismailia and Cairo, aud, as we have said, connected with both by rail, it is of the first importance that it should be held by the British in order to secure their base of supplies dming the advance on Cairo, or on Kafradowar, or both. It is evident from the direction in which the Egyptian forces are retiring that they are calculating en effecting a junction with Arabi JPaeha and his army, who are again reported to be leavlDg Kafradowar. The rebel leader, though not credited with a great amount of military skill, is doubtless alive to the certain consequences of continued inaction in his present position; and since he is effectually held in check by the British army in Alexandria, he has perhaps wisely resolved on lotreat. In falling back, he may make a short stand at Damanhour, which is capable of being well fortified; but he is more likely to effect a junction with the rebel army collected at Mehallet el Kebir, a short distance from Tantah, the "■holy city" of Egypt, and the scene of some recent anti-Christian massacres. The force at that place is said to number 25,000 men, and has 60 large gnns; so that the. amalgamation of this force with the nearly equal number under las immediate command, would place Arabi at the head of a respectable armyf numerically considered. But unless Arabi's movements are made with great rapidity, he will find himself cut off from Cairo through the activity of Sir Garnet Wolseley's army. If the defenders of Zakazik are driven from that position, they may possibly retire on Cairo, and effect a junction with the rebel troops in the neighbourhood of that city, who are said to be engaged in throwing up entrenchments at Heliopolis, the site of an pneient city a short distance to the north-east of Cairo, fir Garnet Wolseley will doubtless aim at dispersing the enemy completely, and preventing them joining either the rebel horde at Mehallat el Kebir or in the vicinity of Cairo, and having secured his line of advance wUI proceed to occupy the latter city and reinforce its loyal garrison. The resnlt Of all the operations hitherto undertaken has been to confirm the opinion that a small British force is equal to the task of subduing these numerous bodies of rebels, who are raw, undisciplined, and badly led. The experience of former campaigns in Egypt shows the importance of prompt action, ana Sir Garnet Wqlseley seems thoroughly alive to this. The inundation of the Bile being now about its height and extending over vast tracts of country In the immediate vicinity of the present scene of operations, the British forces may be delayed for several weeks until the waters * have

aeain subsided; and it is not re> assuring to hear of fifty of our toldicrs Buffering from snnatroke, on account of the oxccasiTC heat. As fever and dysentery usually prevail on fcho subsiding of tho inundations, wo shall probably find our ranks sadly thinned by sickness, if the campaign is protracted for a month or so longer