ENGLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6779, 11 February 1884, Page 2

ENGLAND.

London, February 6. The Victorian gunboats have reached Spithead. They behaved splendidly during a very rough passage, making an average of eight knots an hour. Dr Moran, Bishop of Osanry, has been officially notified of his promotion to the arcbipiscopal see of New South Wales, and is now awaiting the flnal orders from the Vaticau. On Monday morning last Baker Pasha'a force, consisting of three thousand six hundred men, engaged a force of three thousand Arabs at a place about seven mileß from Trinkitat. The Arabs exhibited the most desperate bravery, and charged the cavalry, who fled before the onslaught. The Egyptian artillerymen fired one round on the enemy, and then abandoned their guns. Colonel Sartoriouß ordered the infantry to form square, but owing to the panic prevailing the movement was incompletely executed, and the Arab 3, charging into the gap left, completely routed the infantry, who threw away their arms and implored meroy. The slaughter was terrible. The Massorah black troops alone maintained a firm resistance, but General Baker, failing to rally his forces on them, a general flight took place, the Arabs pursuing the fugitives until they took refuge behind the earthworks near Trinkitat. General Baker has since embarked the remnants of his army on five ahipa, and proceeded with them to Souakim. The enemy's lobb was small, but the Egyptian array loßt two thousand men, and all their baggage and guns were captured. General Baker and Colonels Sartorious and Burndley narrowly escaped being taken prisoners. Seven English and ten foreign officers are missing. The immediate result of the defeat has been massacres at Siukat and Tokar. Gordon Paßha's safety is doubtful, and the fall of Khartoum is likely to follow. A force of marines have been landed at Souakim. This farther Egyptian disaster is likely to seriously damage Mr Gladstone's credit in the coming general election. The division on the Eight Hon. E. Bourk9's amendment on the address-in-reply was entirely a catch one, being taken during the dinner hour, when Sir Stafford Northcote, instead of speaking, as was expected, astounded the House by calling for a division. The amendment was lost by 77 to 20. The only notable feature in the debate was Mr Bourke's condemnation of the system of protectorates. The Admiralty are inquiring into the legality of the Victorian gunboats proceeding to their destination as men-of-war. |by elhotbic tefceobaph— oopybioht.j lEeutkb's Tblbgbamb.]

(Received February 9, 2.20 p.m.) London, February 8. Two battalions of infantry have been ordered to proceed from Aldershot to Malta and G-ibralter, where they will be held in readiness to despatch to Souakim, should their services be required. (Received February 11, 1.11 a.m.) February 9. In the House of Commons to-day a debate was commenced upon a motion tabled by Mr Parnell for a vote of oensure upon the Irish Executive, but the discussion waß subsequently adjourned without a division being taken.