THE GYPPIES.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GYPPIES.

As regards the Sudanese battalions of the "Gyp" army, there can be only one opinion — that such demons for fighting could hardly be matched from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof. To say that they have no fear and have no concern for themselves is to triflo with the case ; the lust of blood is in them, and their chief joy in life is war. Let them have their wives with them, for without their wives they will go nowhere, give them something in the shape of arms, and brave men to lead them, and there is no enemy living a Sudanese battalion would nob face, no situation they would not storm, and no oircumstances in which they would turn tail. But — and this is perfectly well known in Egypt— they are perilous stuff in time of peace, for if they start'drinking they get beyond control, and if they are kept too long doing nothing they spoil for a fight, and one battalion will attack another. This was what happened not long ago, and it was "a regrettable incident," and very soon the number of a battalion will be missing on tho "Oyp"«nrmy list. Shrewd officers consider that the English army of occupation has reached its minimum, and to reduce it further would be dangerous. When one saw tho Seaforths in Cairo—a very tidy set of lads — and the other English uniforms, ho saw the final guarantee of Egyptian security though there is a man called Senoussi upcountry who may give serious trouble some day. THE LORDS OF EGYPT. One comes homo every time from Egypt with the conviction burned into his mind that it was a singular blessing to that 'country that the. dual system of AngloFrench government came to an end, that England has absolute control, and that the real ruler of Egypt is not the Khe-J dive, who, left to himself, couldn't hold the reins of power six months, but Lord Cromjar and the Sirdar. They are lords of Lower and Upper Egypt, wearing the double crown as Viceroys, neither of the Khedive»nor the Sultan, but of the King of England. As one sails through tho ( Canal and pastes Tel-el-Kobir, or stands on tho citadel at Cairo, or sails up the Nile, as one hears aad studies aud takes in the situation, he is amazed at the folly of the politicians who condemned the purchase of the Sues Canal shares and proposed to scuttle out of Egypt, and he adminis afresh the wisdom of Lord Beaconsiield, who by that clever stroke inaugurated the modern Egyptian policy, uttd the statesmanship of those great pro-consuls, Cromer and Kitchener, who have brought tli'at policy to its height. We are now the real governors of Egypt, nnd the English power there increases ovrfry day. Wo" have rendered the greatest service to Egypt, giving to the mass of the people justice, and comfort, nnd security, and it is time we should let the world know that wo 1 do not intend to retire and hariM this prosperous country over to anarchy ancl ruin. The Englishman who can leave Egypt without pride mustbo cleansed, not only from the spirit oP'patriortsm, but also from the feeling of humanity, for the final victory of his nation on the Nile has not been that 01 war, but of peace. But I also pity the Englishman whose blood does not tingle with shame as he remembers the inexplicable and unpardonable tragedy t>f Gordon.