The Soudan.

Hastings Standard, Issue 370, 12 July 1897, Page 3

The Soudan.

THE ADVANCE. ON ABU HAMED. Writing on April 24 a London paper said :—"According to present arrangements the advance to Abu Hamed will be made from Dongola as soon as there is sufficient water to allow the steamers now on the Merawi Reach to be passed through the fourth cataract. This operation, which cannot be commenced before July, is not expected to take more than a few weeks, the distance being only about 100 miles. The present intention is to take Abu liamed where there is a dervish garrison of varying but, according to latest intelligence, of no graat strength. Although there may be numerous skirmishes with this dervish garrison, it is not expected that there will be much opposition, as according to the last news from Omdurman, the tendency of the Khalifa is to concentrate his forces in that neighborhood, many outposts and distant garrisons being abandoned. As soon as Abu Hamed is taking the direct railway line across the desert from Wady Haifa and will be pushed on with all speed, and it is expected to be finished this year. On the completion of the liue the new gunboats now being built by the Admiralty will be taken in sections by railway and put together at Abu Hamed, which will become the advanced post. It is extremely improbable that any British troops will be employed iu the advance from Dongola, which is in a way a subsidiary movement. 'lts strategic importance, however, is great, owing to the fact that when Abu liamed is occupied the worst cataracts will have been passed, and there will remain ! comparatively open water to Berber ' and Khartoum. The whole river from i Abu Hamed to the Dervish liead- [ quarters will thus be dominated by ; the gunboats. There are at present about 12,000 Egyptian troops and ' five gunboats in the province of Don- ' gola.